MetalElectronic book published by ipicturebooks.com

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All rights reservedText copyright © 2000 Nicola Edwards and Jane HarrisPhotographs copyright © 2000 Julian Cornish-Trestrail

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,

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e-ISBN 1-59019-856-5Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available

ISBN 0-7136-5345-0

Exploring the science of everyday materials

Nicola Edwards andJane Harris

Photographs by

Julian Cornish-Trestrail

2

Metals havelots of differentuses. We’vecollected these metal objects.

Look at all the shapesand sizes.

3

I‛ve foundsome tiny objects.

4

Metals comefrom underthe ground.Most metalsare foundin rocks,which aredrilled outand crushed.

5

The rocks are heatedto make the metal melt.When the metal cools,it turns intoa solid block.

6

There are many different typesof metal. Very strong metalsare used to make bridges,boats and cranes.

This metalclimbing frame

is solid andsturdy.

7

Some metals are light and bendy.

I‛ve bentthis wire intostar shapes.

I can‛t bendthis metal.

My metal must bebendier than yours.

8

This metal saucepanis shiny and heavy. It has smooth surfaces sothat it’s easy to clean.

I can cutthrough the paper easily.

It feels cold and hard.

These metal scissorshave a sharp edge.

9

This jumping ghost has a metalspring inside it.

I push the spring down…

…and watch the ghost jump!

10

Metals can be made intoall kinds of shapes. This ower pot

was made ina mould.

The metal isheated, then pouredinto a mould. As the metal coolsdown, it sets into the shape of the mould.

11

My box is made of at pieces of metal.They have been bent into shape andjoined together.

The box is light but

strong.

12

Metal allows heat to travel through it.Let’s nd out if heat travels best throughwood, plastic or metal.

We‛ve put a woodenspoon, a metal spoonand a plastic spoon ina jug of warm water

for two minutes.

13

The plasticspoon and the

wooden spoon arestill cold.

But the metalspoon is warm!

14

Iron and steel are magnetic. This means thata magnet will pull these metals towards it.

We‛ve madea magnetic shing rod!

We tied a steel magneton to a piece

of string.

15

We’re nding out which of these metal objectsare magnetic. Let‛s try

the nail.

The magnet‛slifting the nail.

Look!

16

Some metals willrust if they arewet for a long time.

The rain has made it turn brown

and rusty.

This trowel has been

left outside.

17

Our cutlery is made of stainless steel. Other metals were added to the steel to stop it from rusting.So we can wash itup again and again!

Oh no!

18

This kitchen tool is madeof metal. What willhappen if I drop it?

It bouncesand it makes

a noise.

19

Some musicalinstruments aremade of metal.I’m going to clash thesemetal cymbals.

What a noise!

My handsfeel tingly.

20

We’ve been for a walk around the school to look for metal objects. We’ve made a list.

21

I wonder if any of the objectscould be made from othermaterials. Theseare our ideas.

I can‛t thinkof anything else

strong enough formaking keys.

22

It’s time to tidy away. Many metal objects can be recycled and made into new things.

We‛ve made thisrecycling box for

our school.

23

We’ve collectedlots of cansto put in the box.

This sign shows thatit can be recycled.

24

Notes for parents and teachersThe aim of the Science Explorers series is to introduce children toways of observing and classifying materials, so that they can discoverthe various properties which make them suitable for a range of uses.By talking about what they already know about materials from theireveryday use of different objects, the children will gain con dencein making predictions about how a material will behave in differentcircumstances. Through their explorations, the children will be ableto try out their ideas in a fair test.

pp 2–3

There are more than a hundred known elements,from which everything in the world is made. Morethan three quarters of these elements are metals.While each metal has certain properties that distinguishit, all metals have a number of things in common. Theyall re ect light, are shiny in appearance and are goodconductors of heat and electricity. All metals are silveror grey in colour apart from copper which is reddish,and gold which is yellow. Metals play a huge partin our everyday lives and they have done so forthousands of years. As early as 3,500 BC, gold wasused for making ornaments, jewellery and utensils.

pp 4–5

Only copper, gold, silver and platinum can be foundas pure metals. Other metals are found in rocks calledores and are usually combined with other substances.Some metals, including iron and copper, are puri edby smelting – the ore is crushed and heated in afurnace so that the hot liquid metal can be extracted.

pp 6–9

Each metal has different properties which makes ituseful for particular things. For example, tungsten is

used for laments in light bulbs because it does notmelt until heated to 3,400°C. Aluminium is very lightand is used to make aircraft, boats and cars. It canalso be rolled into very thin sheets and is used tomake metal foil and drinks cans. The children couldexplore the different properties of a variety of metalobjects, investigating weight, pliability and magnetism.Are the objects smooth or sharp; are they springyor solid; do they chip or crack if dropped?

pp 10–11

Most metals can only be shaped when they areheated. This is done in different ways, such as casting,rolling or extrusion. Metal pieces can be joined usingnuts and bolts or by more permanent methods,including welding, soldering or riveting. Look atsome everyday metal objects and discuss how thepieces have been joined together.

pp 12–13

Metals are good conductors of heat; the atoms aretightly packed together so that the vibrations arequickly passed on through the object. As an extensionof the test on page 12, provide a variety of utensilsthat are made of metal but have plastic or wooden

25

handles. Ask the children to predict what will happenwhen they are placed in the jug. If possible, use aplastic jug (if the children handle glass, ensure thatthey are properly supervised).

pp 14–15

Iron, nickel and cobalt are the only pure metals thathave strong magnetic properties. Children couldexplore magnetism further using a magnet tomanoeuvre paper-clips on a piece of paper.

pp 16–17

Over time, many metals will corrode and weaken.Corrosion occurs due to the chemical action of a gasor liquid on the metal. Rust is the most common formof corrosion and affects objects made from iron orsteel when they are exposed to moist air. Stainlesssteel contains nickel and chromium and resists rusting.

pp 18–19

Most metals are solid and hard at room temperatureand will not crack or break if dropped. When a metalobject is struck or dropped, it vibrates, causing it tomake a sound. Percussion instruments in particulartend to be made of metal. The children could maketheir own percussion instruments, using metal objects.

pp 20–2l

Encourage the children to imagine a world withoutmetals. What substances are there which couldreplace metals? Did the children know, for example,that keys were once made out of wood?

pp 22–23

Recycling metals saves energy and reduces pollution.Discuss the importance of recycling and, if possible,take the children to a recycling centre that collectsmetal objects.

Here are some of the wordsand ideas in this book.

bendy metals 7

describing metal 6, 7, 8

heating metal 5, 12, 13

iron 14

magnetic objects 14, 15

metal spring 9

moulding metal 10

musical instruments 19

recycling metal 22, 23

rusting 16, 17

steel 14, 17

strong metals 6, 11

where metal comes from 4, 5

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