Wood grain

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/wood-grain

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the anisotropic properties?Wood exhibits directional strength and stiffness, being strongest parallel to the grain
2. Why does wood grain look different in different trees?Different trees grow at different speeds and in different weather. The size, density, and direction of the cells can change, so the grain can look straight, spiral, or curly. Even when a tree is hurt, the grain can change.
3. How does wood grain help trees stay strong?Because the cells grow in a line, wood is very strong when you pull or push along that line. It can hold heavy things and resist bending better in that direction. When you push or pull across the line, it is not as strong.

Anisotropy: Having properties that differ in direction, such as wood's varying strength.
Medullary Rays: Radial sheets of cells in wood that appear as flecks or lines when cut across the grain.
Lignin: A complex polymer that strengthens plant cell walls, contributing to wood's rigidity.