The various materials that are used in building is one of the topics covered in GCSE Science. This is the sixth of seven quizzes on that particular subject and it looks specifically at the different physical properties of metals and suitable uses that can be found for them.
It is hard to imagine life without metals. They are strong and can be bent, beaten and stretched into shape without breaking. They also conduct both heat and electricity. Some of the less reactive metals can be found 'native' but the majority are obtained as ores. Ores are naturally occurring rocks that provide an economic starting point for the manufacture of metals. Iron ore is used to make iron and steel. Some metals, for example copper, can be easily extracted whilst others are more difficult. Our metals come from the crust of the Earth and will one day run out - they are non-renewable.
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Different metals have different properties and so are suitable for different tasks. The uses of metals are linked to both their chemical and their physical properties. Copper conducts electricity extremely well and is soft - therefore, one of the uses it is most suitable for is as electrical wires. Although it is soft, it is hard enough to be used for plumbing and is an improvement on the original material, lead, as it does not react with water. It is not used for the cables that carry the electricity of the national grid - aluminium is used for that purpose as it is much lighter than copper. Most metals expand and contract by large amounts as they become hotter and cooler which is why the cables used for the national grid are slack. If they were tight, in the winter, they would contract, stretch and become weakened.
An interesting use of the expansion and contraction of metals is in bimetallic strips. These rely on the fact that different metals and alloys expand and contract by different amounts. When pieces of the same length of two different types of metal are joined firmly together, when the strip is heated or cooled, it will bend towards the metal that expands the least. This makes it useful for devices such as thermostats. Bimetallic strips are also used to make some types of thermometer and can even be used in analogue clocks and watches to help to regulate them as temperatures change.
Take this quiz to see how well you understand the physical properties of metals and how these affect their possible use.
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1.
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Which of the following is not a physical property of titanium? |
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| [ ] |
Low density |
| [ ] |
Corrosion resistant |
| [ ] |
Conducts electricity |
| [ ] |
Very strong |
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2.
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Why are the metals magnesium and titanium used to make alloys for aircraft frames? |
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| [ ] |
They are light metals |
| [ ] |
They are heavy metals |
| [ ] |
They are transition metals |
| [ ] |
They are silver coloured metals |
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3.
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Aluminuim is not as good a conductor of electricity as copper so why is it used for making the electrical cables for the National Grid? |
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| [ ] |
It is easier than copper to make it into wires |
| [ ] |
It doesn't expand or contract |
| [ ] |
It is silver coloured so birds and pilots can see and avoid the cables |
| [ ] |
The density of aluminium is less than that of copper |
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4.
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Which of the following metals would be suitable for making a hammer? |
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| [ ] |
Steel |
| [ ] |
Cast iron |
| [ ] |
Copper |
| [ ] |
Titanium |
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5.
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Many people who ride mountain bikes buy parts made from titanium alloys. Which of the following is not a practical reason for making this choice? |
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| [ ] |
Titanium alloys are lightweight |
| [ ] |
Titanium alloys have a high melting point |
| [ ] |
Titanium alloys are durable |
| [ ] |
Titanium alloys are resistant to metal fatigue |
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6.
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Steel corrodes but it is still the best metal for making car bodies. Why is this? |
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| [ ] |
Steel is shiny and makes cars look good |
| [ ] |
Steel conducts electricity |
| [ ] |
Steel conducts heat well |
| [ ] |
Steel is strong and malleable |
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7.
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Tungsten is a transition metal that is used for making the filaments of some electric light bulbs. What is the most likely reason for this? |
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| [ ] |
Tungsten has a high density |
| [ ] |
Tungsten has a high boiling point |
| [ ] |
Tungsten has a high melting point |
| [ ] |
Tungsten is very cheap |
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8.
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House electrical systems require a good earthing system to make them safe. The earthing system carries electricity safely into the ground and causes the safety devices in the house to 'trip', preventing electric shocks. Electricians sometimes fix the earth wires of a domestic electrical system to copper pipes used for the plumbing. Why is this? |
|
| [ ] |
The water in the pipe conducts electricity to earth |
| [ ] |
Copper is a good conductor of electricity |
| [ ] |
The pipes will stay cool in the event of an electrical emergency |
| [ ] |
It is an easy thing to do and saves them the time and trouble of putting a proper system in place |
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9.
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Why do metals conduct electricity? |
|
| [ ] |
They have ionic bonds |
| [ ] |
They have covalent bonds |
| [ ] |
They have free electrons |
| [ ] |
The layers of ions in a metal |
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10.
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Why can metals be bent and pulled into shape? |
|
| [ ] |
The atoms of metals are soft |
| [ ] |
The layers of metal ions are able to slide over and past each other |
| [ ] |
The ions of a metal are able to break free of each other |
| [ ] |
They are ionically bonded |
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1.
|
Which of the following is not a physical property of titanium? |
|
| [ ] |
Low density |
| [x] |
Corrosion resistant |
| [ ] |
Conducts electricity |
| [ ] |
Very strong |
|
|
|
2.
|
Why are the metals magnesium and titanium used to make alloys for aircraft frames? |
|
| [x] |
They are light metals |
| [ ] |
They are heavy metals |
| [ ] |
They are transition metals |
| [ ] |
They are silver coloured metals |
|
|
|
3.
|
Aluminuim is not as good a conductor of electricity as copper so why is it used for making the electrical cables for the National Grid? |
|
| [ ] |
It is easier than copper to make it into wires |
| [ ] |
It doesn't expand or contract |
| [ ] |
It is silver coloured so birds and pilots can see and avoid the cables |
| [x] |
The density of aluminium is less than that of copper |
|
|
|
4.
|
Which of the following metals would be suitable for making a hammer? |
|
| [x] |
Steel |
| [ ] |
Cast iron |
| [ ] |
Copper |
| [ ] |
Titanium |
|
|
|
5.
|
Many people who ride mountain bikes buy parts made from titanium alloys. Which of the following is not a practical reason for making this choice? |
|
| [ ] |
Titanium alloys are lightweight |
| [x] |
Titanium alloys have a high melting point |
| [ ] |
Titanium alloys are durable |
| [ ] |
Titanium alloys are resistant to metal fatigue |
|
|
|
6.
|
Steel corrodes but it is still the best metal for making car bodies. Why is this? |
|
| [ ] |
Steel is shiny and makes cars look good |
| [ ] |
Steel conducts electricity |
| [ ] |
Steel conducts heat well |
| [x] |
Steel is strong and malleable |
|
|
|
7.
|
Tungsten is a transition metal that is used for making the filaments of some electric light bulbs. What is the most likely reason for this? |
|
| [ ] |
Tungsten has a high density |
| [ ] |
Tungsten has a high boiling point |
| [x] |
Tungsten has a high melting point |
| [ ] |
Tungsten is very cheap |
|
|
|
8.
|
House electrical systems require a good earthing system to make them safe. The earthing system carries electricity safely into the ground and causes the safety devices in the house to 'trip', preventing electric shocks. Electricians sometimes fix the earth wires of a domestic electrical system to copper pipes used for the plumbing. Why is this? |
|
| [ ] |
The water in the pipe conducts electricity to earth |
| [x] |
Copper is a good conductor of electricity |
| [ ] |
The pipes will stay cool in the event of an electrical emergency |
| [ ] |
It is an easy thing to do and saves them the time and trouble of putting a proper system in place |
|
|
|
9.
|
Why do metals conduct electricity? |
|
| [ ] |
They have ionic bonds |
| [ ] |
They have covalent bonds |
| [x] |
They have free electrons |
| [ ] |
The layers of ions in a metal |
|
|
|
10.
|
Why can metals be bent and pulled into shape? |
|
| [ ] |
The atoms of metals are soft |
| [x] |
The layers of metal ions are able to slide over and past each other |
| [ ] |
The ions of a metal are able to break free of each other |
| [ ] |
They are ionically bonded |
|
|
