Question

The materials like plastics are not acted upon by physical process.
A. True
B. False
C. Either
D. Neither

Answer 1

Hint: We have to see what happens to the plastics when they are subjected to the physical processes like extreme temperature and force so that we know if it affects the structure of the plastics and what extent.


Complete step by step answer:
Plastics are typically organic polymers of high molecular mass and sometimes contain other substances. They are usually synthetic, most commonly derived from petrochemicals,As is the case with several other properties of plastics, biodegradability is another property that different plastics exhibit varying extents .
 The non-biodegradable items persist in nature for a long period of time and hence, for their elimination, they are acted upon by physical processes because they are made up of cross linked polymers which can be broken down under extreme physical conditions.
Temperature (Heating of plastics or direct heat from the sun etc)has effects on the chemical composition of the plastic (some plastics are known to undergo an irreversible chemical change when exposed to high temperatures).
The tensile strength of the plastic or the maximum amount of stress that the plastic can handle without breaking or undergoing a permanent deformation.
The glass transition temperature of the plastic or the temperature at which the plastic is transformed from a hard, brittle substance to a soft, rubbery one.
There is no doubt now that physical processes have no action on plastics as they are affected by physical processes like heat and force .
So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Note: For example, some plastics that are classified as biodegradable take relatively short durations of time to break down and decompose. Other biodegradable plastics are known to take a much longer duration of time to break down and decompose. Finally, certain plastics are known to be non-biodegradable in nature. These plastics cannot be broken down by bacteria and other organic processes.