Exam 1 HW Questions (MSE 2001)

Today, it can be difficult to choose the best material for a given application because: 

...we have so many different materials from which to choose.

What is the approximate cost of nickel per pound? 

$10/lb

What do materials science engineers study:

Structure, properties, and processing of materials

The emissivity of a material determines the spectral intensities of light emitted from the material at a temperature above absolute zero.  Thus, the emissivity is an example of a material constant that crosses which two classes of properties?

Optical and Thermal

Rare Earth elements are so named because:

They are rarely found in high concentrations when mined from the earth.

True/False: Often the most cost-effective way to obtain "rare" earth elements is through purifying the waste material from more terrestrially abundant materials. 

True

Which of the following factors can contribute to the price of a material? (Select all that apply)

A. Terrestrial abundance of the elements in that material.

B. Whether or not the elements of the material are found in concentrated quantities in ores or only as impurities in ores.

C. Commercial/Industrial demand for the elements in that material.

D. Speculation by investors in raw elements used to make a given material.

All of the above

Which of the following is/are example(s) of optical properties of materials?

A. Refractive Index

B. Dielectric Constant

C. Reflectivity

Refractive index and reflectivity

Cutting a copper wire in half would...

A. Change both its performance parameters and materials properties for some applications.

B. Have no impact on either its performance parameters or materials properties for any applications.

C. Change its materials propert(ies) for some applications but not alter its performance parameters.

D. Change its performance parameter(s) for some applications but not alter its material properties.

Change its performance parameter(s) for some applications but not alter its material properties.

Which of the following is/are example(s) of mechanical properties of materials?

A. Refractive Index

B. Elastic Modulus

C. Yield Strength

Elastic modulus and yield strength

Because raw zinc ore from zinc mines is around 3% zinc by weight, you can conclude that: 

A. The supply of zinc is dwindling and we should develop better reclamation processes

B. The price of zinc is always lower than a metal found in concentrations of only 1% 

C. Zinc is a rare earth element

D. Zinc is not a rare earth element

Zinc is NOT a rare earth element

(ore concentration ≠ classification as a rare earth element)

What is the approximate cost of iron per pound? 

$0.05/lb

True / False: Usually a good first estimate for comparing the relative price of two different elements is comparing their relative difference in terrestrial abundance; if one element is significantly less abundant than another element, then it is likely more expensive.

True

Which of the following best describes the main theme of the materials science and engineering discipline?

A. MSE seeks to understand and apply the inter-relationships between how materials are processed, their structure, and their resultant properties.

B. MSE seeks to understand the relationships between materials constants and performance parameters.

C. MSE seeks to make the strongest, most robust materials known to man.

D. MSE seeks to understand how to design the shape and size of materials to optimize performance.

MSE seeks to understand and apply the inter-relationships between how materials are processed, their structure, and their resultant properties.

Which of the following properties is an example of a THERMAL property:

A. Heat Capacity

B. Emissivity

C. Hardness

D. Refractive Index

Heat capacity

The flotation step in zinc milling is used to:

Separate zinc-rich particles from zinc-poor particles: the zinc-rich particles attach to the foam, which is skimmed off the top and dried to recover the zinc-rich particles

Your boss at your new job has found a potential replacement for the aluminum sheet metal used in your product. The new material is cheaper for the same dimensions, and it has identical composition to the old metal. Based on the identical composition, they conclude that these new sheets should have the same mechanical properties and that they would be a safe replacement without requiring any further research. What would be your response? 

A. You would disagree and say that more information is required before switching materials, because a material's properties can depend upon other structural features besides composition.

B. You would agree because the properties of a material are independent of the size or shape of a material and depend solely upon the material's composition .

C. You would disagree and say that more information is required before switching materials, because a material's properties can depend upon the shape and size as well as composition.

You would disagree and say that more information is required before switching materials, because a material's properties can depend upon other structural features besides composition.

Why did indium prices peak in the early 2000's? 

A. The use of indium tin oxide in a precious metals exchange created a surge in demand due to a geopolitical driver

B. Speculators predicted that reclamation would pick up in the mid-2000s and wanted to invest early 

C. The use of indium tin oxide in flat-panel displays created a surge in demand due to a technology driver

D. The use of indium tin oxide in flat-panel displays created a surge in demand due to a geopolitical driver

The use of indium tin oxide in flat-panel displays created a surge in demand due to a technology driver