Metallurgy:TheScienceofMetals

Description

This activity plan provides basicinformationonmetallurgy, which is the scienceofunderstandingthephysical properties ofmetals. Metals canbedivided into threecategories:non-ferrous, ferrousandprecious/pure.Thepurpose of thisplanistoexplore metals and givestudents a foundationalunderstandingofwhatmetalsaremadeofandhowtheyareclassified.

Students willlearnthecategories of metals, properties and characteristics. MaterialIdentificationwillhelpthemtoquickly identify metalsandtheirvariousshapes.

Itissuggestedtocompletethis activity prior toMaterialsIdentification.

LessonObjectives

The student willbeableto:

•Understandthe basics ofthe field ofmetallurgy

•Discuss thesimilaritiesanddifferences between thecategories of metals

•Identifyprocessesfor metals

•Discuss theproperties of metals

•Identifycommonmetalsfoundinthe metalshop

Assumptions

Theteacher should:

•understand the basics ofmaterial science

•understandtheproperties of metal

•understandhowmetalsare classified

Terminology

Alloy:amixtureofmetals/elementsthatcreatesnewmetalswithdifferentcharacteristicsAluminum:ametallicelementthatissilvery/blueincolour,lightweightandeasytofabricateBasematerial/element:

Brass:a yellow alloy thatismadewithcopperandzinc

Bronze:ayellow/brownalloy thatismadewithcopperandtin

Carbon:anaturallyoccurringnon-metalelementusedinmetals

Copper:anaturallyoccurringred/brownmetalthatisductileandconductsheatwell

Skills Exploration10–121

Element:asubstancethatcannotbebrokendownanyfurther. Composedofatomsthatcontainthesameatomicnumber

Ferrous:ametalthatcontainsironasitsbasematerial

Gold:apreciousmetalthatisyellowincolour,resistanttochemicalsandverymalleable

Iron:aheavytypeofmetal,usedintheproductionofsteel

Lead:asoft,malleablegreyelement

Metallurgy:abranchofscienceandtechnologyconcernedwiththepropertiesofmetals,theirproductionandpurification

Molecule:agroupoftwoormoreatomsthatlinktogether

Nickel:asilverywhitemetal,hardandresistanttocorrosion

Non-ferrous:anon-magneticmetalthatdoesnotcontainironasitsbasematerial

Pewter:an alloycomposedof90%tinandamixofcopperand antimony

Precious:ahighlyvaluedobjectorsubstance.Inthislesson,usedtodescribevaluablemetalslike goldand silver

Properties:inrelationtometal,characteristicsanddescriptionstohelpidentifymaterials

Pure:amaterialcontainingonlyoneelement

Silver:shiny,grey metalthatisanexcellent conductorandisresistanttocorrosion Stainlesssteel:analloythatcontainschromiumtoensure themetalisresistanttocorrosionSteel:aniron-basedalloy thatisveryhardandstrong.Usedheavily inmanufacturing

Tin:asoft,very shinymetalusedintheproductionof alloys;strongresistancetocorrosion;non-toxic

Zinc:abasemetalusedintheproductionof alloys,knownforitsresistancetocorrosion

EstimatedTime

30–90minutes

RecommendedNumberofStudents

20, basedontheBCTechnology Educators’Best PracticeGuide

Facilities

Metalshop or classroom environment

2SkillsExploration10–12

Tools

•Computer andprojector

•PowerPointpresentation

Materials

•Pieces of a variety ofmetals for visual andtactile examples

•Notes printedfrom the PowerPoint presentationas ahandout for students

Resources

•ModernMetalworking, textbook byJohnR.Walker, copyright 2004,Goodheart-WilcoxCompanyInc.

Teacher-ledActivity

Usingthe PowerPoint presentationonmetals, present the background informationonthesciencebehind metals, known as metallurgy.

Haveaclass discussion that includesthefollowing topics:

•Discuss thesimilaritiesanddifferences between thecategories of metals

•Identifyprocessesfor metals

•Discuss theproperties of metals

•Identifycommonmetalsfoundinthe metalshop

Evaluation

Consider co-creatingthe evaluation criteriawith yourstudents atthebeginningoftheactivity/project. You maywanttoincludethe following:

•Students areactivelyengagedinclass discussion.

Skills Exploration10–123