Question
4 The metals aluminium and copper can be used to make pans for cooking Table 2 shows information about the two metals The higher the value for thermal conductivity, the better the metal conducts thermal energy. Table 2 cline ( 2 - 3 ) multicolumn(1)(c|){} & Aluminlum & Copper Thermal conductivity in arbitrary units & 250 & 400 Density in mathrm(g) / mathrm(om)^3 & 2.7 & 8.9 Cost of metal per mathrm(kg) in mathrm(E) & 1.50 & 7.00 Evaluate the use of pans made of aluminium and of copper.
Answer
4.3
(342 Votes)
Dominic
Expert · Tutor for 3 years
Answer
Based on the analysis above, we can conclude that both aluminium and copper have their own advantages. Pots and pans made of copper would conduct heat better, but they would be denser and more expensive. While pans made from aluminium would be more lightweight and cheaper, they wouldn't conduct heat as well as those made from copper. In conclusion, the choice between aluminium and copper pans will largely depend on the personal preferences, and requirements of usability versus performance, of the individual involved.
Explanation
## Step 1: Analyze the thermal conductivity.The higher the thermal conductivity value indicates more rapid transfer of heat. Hence, materials with a high thermal conductivity are often used to create objects like pots and pans which need to transfer heat efficiently. From the provided table, we can see that copper has a higher thermal conductivity than aluminium. ## Step 2: Consider the density of the metals.If a pan is too dense, it would be difficult to manipulate in a kitchen setting. Copper is denser than aluminium, making aluminium more convenient to use from this perspective. ## Step 3: Evaluate the cost.The cost of a material also plays a significant role in deciding which material we create pots and pans from. As the table states, copper is significantly more expensive (
per kg) than aluminium (
per kg).