An understanding of common materials is the engineer's palette when it comes to construction. Choosing the right material for the job results in a product that works better, is more economical, and often more elegant. The number of physical properties of matter is staggering, but we will consider a few here for starters that we are likely to use.
Solid wood: Balsa, Pine, Oak
Plywood
Medium Density Fiberboard
Cardstock
Paper
Corrugated Cardboard
Acrylic
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
Polycarbonate (Lexan®)
Brass
Aluminum
Steel
Copper