Unit 10 complex machines. Bicycle. Recording 1. Recording 2. Unit 11 metals. Unit 12 mechanical properties
Unit 10 COMPLEX MACHINES
Bicycle
Recording 1
Now, count up the parts on your drawing. Did you include wheels? A handlebar? A saddle? A chain? A crossbar? Pedals? Did your bike have at least five parts? And could it work? Now for the difference between the men’s drawings of bicycle and women’s: female drawings often include a person riding the bike, men’s drawings don’t usually include a person. This is a clear indication that women think people are important. Men, on the other hand, are more interested in getting the machine right.
Recording 2
P = Presenter W1 = 1st woman
M1 = 1st man W2 = 2nd woman
P: Here are some comments from men and women who did the test.
W1: Hmmm. Well, I only got four parts right. How many did you get right?
M1: I only got four. How many did you get?
W2: I’ve got. I’ve got five, but none of us got the chain, did we so…
M1: Mine hasn’t even got pedals…
W2: No, mine hasn’t got pedals…
M1: Pedals nor chains so mine will never work!
W2: But if you’ve got pedals and no chain it’s not going to work anyway…
M1: It’ll have to be going downhill…
W2: And also that, um, that means the explanation for men making the bike work doesn’t because you, you…
M1: That’s right … of the two women and one man none of us drew…
W2: Have made the bike work.
M1: … yeah, and none of us drew a person … so the explanation about women wanting to put a person on there is hasn’t proven correct for you two….
W1: No, not with us … no.
M1: And mine is meant to be all about functionality and hasn’t … ah, I’ve got a little bird on my handlebars though….
W2: It’s very clear drawing though, yours…
W1: I think mine is more male than yours, maybe? Yes…
M1: I think you’re right…
Unit 11 METALS
Sophia: OK, so steel bodywork versus aluminium bodywork.
Peter: What about pre-use, then?
Sophia: Well, I think it takes a lot of energy to produce aluminium, compared with steel, because aluminium's made by electrolysis.
Peter: Yeah. So steel's better, presumably.
Sophia: I think so, yeah. But, hang on a minute with aluminium, it depends how much is derive from ore, and how much is recovered from recycled material. As far as I know recycling aluminium takes less energy. So I'm not really sure.
Peter: Presumably, it'll be mixed, won't it? For a given batch, there'll be so much new material and so much recycled material.
Sophia: Probably, yeah. OK, so that needs to be researched, then.
Peter: Is car bodywork galvanised when it's made from steel?
Sophia: Um ... good question. I'm not sure.
Peter: lf it is, if it has to be coated with zinc, the that would take extra material and extra energy So that's an important consideration.
Sophia: Mm, true. OK, so that's another question to note.
Peter: Then there's the energy consumed when they're transporting bulk metal to the car plant
Sophia: Presumably aluminium takes less energy to transport, being lighter.
Peter: I'd say so, yeah.
Sophia: OK. What about manufacturing?
Peter: Well, aluminium would be lighter to handle wouldn't it? lt probably takes less energy to cut, as well.
Sophia: Yeah. Not sure whether it takes less energy to weld, compared with steel.
Peter: Cood question. Another thing to check out
Sophia: Mm, what about in-use, then? | assume aluminium's better because it's lighter, so you consume less fuel.
Peter: Yeah. And it should last longer, as well.
Sophia: Mm, is that an environmental consideration, though?
Peter: Well, yeah, because if things last longer, they need to be manufactured less often.
|
