The document describes procedures to test the tensile strength and density of different materials to determine the best material for making a racing bicycle. The tensile strength test involves measuring the diameter of wires made of different materials and applying increasing mass until the wire breaks, recording the breaking force. The density test involves measuring the mass and volume of material samples through water displacement. Results are recorded and analyzed to determine the order of strength and density and select the best material for the bicycle based on these properties.
2. Context Different ways a material can be used will depend on its physical properties. These include strength, density, hardness and conductivity. You are going to measure the strength and density of some materials to help you decide which might be the best material to make a racing bicycle from.
5. Method Testing Strength 1. The material to be tested needs to be held firmly between the two vices. (see diagram – click here ) 2. Use a micrometer to measure the diameter of the wire. 3. Repeat your measurement of the diameter of the wire. 4. Now calculate the average value for the diameter. Use the formula: area = /4 × (diameter)2. Write down the average value in your results table 5. Add masses to the mass holder until the wire breaks. 6. Write down the mass attached to the wire at the breaking point. Include the mass of the lower vice and mass holder. Write down the value of the mass in your results table. 7. Repeat steps 1 to 6 for three other materials (a wire made of another metal, nylon thread, fibreglass). 8. Calculate the tensile strength of each material tested. Assume that a mass of 1 kg has a weight of 10 N.
6. Method Testing Density 1. Measure the mass of a piece of metal using a balance. Write down the mass in your results. 2. Pour enough water into a measuring cylinder to cover the piece of metal. Write down the volume in your results. Remember that 1 ml is 1 cm3. 3. Now put the piece of metal into the water. (The water should cover the piece of metal. If it doesn’t you will need to go back to step 2 and make sure you put enough water into the measuring cylinder.) Write down the level of the top of the water, which is the total volume of the water and the piece of metal. Write down your readings in your results. 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 and write down your readings in your results. Now you can calculate the average value for the volume of the piece of metal. 5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 for three other materials.
7. Results for tensile strength Tensile strength (Nm -2 ) Breaking force (N) Breaking mass (kg) Average diameter (mm) Average diameter (m) Cross-sectional area (m 2 ) Diameter of wire (2) Diameter of wire (1) Material
8. Results for density testing Average volume of material (cm 3 ) Density(mass/volume)(gcm -3 ) Density (kgm -3 Volume of material (2) (cm 3 ) Volume of water + material (2) (cm 3 ) Volume of water + material (1) (cm 3 ) Volume of material (1) (cm 3 ) Volume of water (2) (cm 3 ) Volume of water (1) (cm 3 ) Mass (g) Material
9. Analysis The order of strengths of the materials tested is……….. Measurement of the tensile strengths is important because …………… The order of densities of the materials tested is……….. Measurement of the densities is important because …………… The material I would chose to build a racing bike is … This is because …………..
10. Evaluation My experiment went… I did not have problems with… because… I had problems with … because… To improve my experiment I could… My results would be more reliable if I… Did you have any results that look out of place? If so, how might this have happened?
