ELEMENT 6 DECISION MAKING This type of question involving some criteria needed to achieve a special aim Candidates are

tested on the ability to analyse and evaluate each criterion given

Candidate are required to choose the most suitable alternative and state the justification of the decision made
Format

EXAMPLE 1:
Table 1.1 shows two types of pot and their characteristics.
Type of pot Clay pot Clay handle Clay handle Polymer handle Hotlatet plate 900 J kg-1 C-1 3.5 kg Copper pot
Polymer handle

Specific heat capacity, c Mass

390 J kg-1 C-1 2.5 kg

Table 1.1 (a) What is the meaning of specific heat capacity? Amount of energy to change the temperature
oC or 1 K of 1 kg of mass of a substance by 1

[1 mark]

Type of pot

Clay pot Clay handle Clay handle Polymer handle plate 900 J kg-1 C-1 3.5 kg

Copper pot
Polymer handle

Specific heat capacity, c Mass

390 J kg-1 C-1 2.5 kg

Table 1.1

(b) Based on Table 1.1, state suitable characteristics of the pot if it is to be used for cooking something rapidly. Give reason for the suitability of the characteristics. Copper pot (i) Material of the pot : .. Lower specific heat capacity Reason :..

/ Can be heated up faster .. / Good heat conductor [2 mark]

Type of pot

Clay pot Clay handle Clay handle Polymer handle plate 900 J kg-1 C-1 3.5 kg

Copper pot
Polymer handle

Specific heat capacity, c Mass

390 J kg-1 C-1 2.5 kg

Table 1.1

(b) Based on Table 1.1, state suitable characteristics of the pot if it is to be used for cooking something rapidly. Give reason for the suitability of the characteristics. handle (ii)Material for the handle : Polymer .. Higher specific heat capacity Reason :..

/ Heats up slower .. / Good heat insulator [2 mark]

Type of pot

Clay pot Clay handle Clay handle Polymer handle plate 900 J kg-1 C-1 3.5 kg

Copper pot
Polymer handle

Specific heat capacity, c Mass

390 J kg-1 C-1 2.5 kg

Table 1.1

(b) Based on Table 1.1, state suitable characteristics of the pot if it is to be used for cooking something rapidly. Give reason for the suitability of the characteristics. Lower mass (iii)Mass of pot: .. Easy to handle Reason :.. / Less energy used to heat up the pot ..
[2 mark]

Type of pot

Clay pot Clay handle Clay handle Polymer handle plate 900 J kg-1 C-1 3.5 kg

Copper pot
Polymer handle

Specific heat capacity, c Mass

390 J kg-1 C-1 2.5 kg

Table 1.1

(c) The pot are heated by using an electric hot plate of power 800 W. Based on the information in Table 1.1 calculate the time taken to achieve a temperature rise of 90oC for (i) The clay pot Pt = m c (800) t = (3.5)(900) (90) t = 354.4 s [2 marks]

Type of pot

Clay pot Clay handle Clay handle Polymer handle plate 900 J kg-1 C-1 3.5 kg

Copper pot
Polymer handle

Specific heat capacity, c Mass

390 J kg-1 C-1 2.5 kg

Table 1.1

(c) The pot are heated by using an electric hot plate of power 800 W. Based on the information in Table 1.1 calculate the time taken to achieve a temperature rise of 90oC for (ii) The copper pot Pt = m c (800) t = (2.5)(390) (90) t = 109.7 s [2 marks]

Type of pot

Clay pot Clay handle Clay handle Polymer handle plate 900 J kg-1 C-1 3.5 kg

Copper pot
Polymer handle

Specific heat capacity, c Mass

390 J kg-1 C-1 2.5 kg

Table 1.1

(d) Determine the most suitable pot that is safest to handle and can be heated in the shortest period of time. Copper pot .
[1 mark]

EXAMPLE 2:
Figure 2.1 shows a food container used for keeping the food warm. The container is able to maintain the temperature of food for a long time. The container can be moved from one place to another

Table 2.1 shows the characteristics of materials which could be used to make the food container
Charac.
Material

Density kg m-3

Melting point oC

Specific heat Thermal capacity conductivity J kg-1oC-1

P Q R S T

2710 910 1050 2600 3800

660 27 240 1200 2020

910 1600 1300 670 800

High Low Low Low High

[1 mark] (b) You are asked to investigate the characteristics of the material in Table 2.1 and hence, determine which material is most suitable to be used to make the food container Explain the suitability of each characteristics in Table 2.1 and hence, determine which material is most suitable to be used to make the container. Justify your choice. [10 marks]

(a) What is meant by melting point?

[SPM 2004/P2/SC/3(a)]

Expected answer :
(a) The meaning of melting point: 1 - The temperature at which a substance
changes from solid to liquid

[1 mark] (b) You are asked to investigate the characteristics of the material in Table 2.1 and hence, determine which material is most suitable to be used to make the food container

(a) What is meant by melting point?

Explain the suitability of each characteristics in Table 2.1 and hence, determine which material is most suitable to be used to make the container. Justify your choice [10 marks]

[SPM 2004/P2/SC/3(a)]
Format

Table 2.1 shows the characteristics of materials which could be used to make the food container
Charac.
Material

Density kg m-3

Melting point oC

Specific heat Thermal capacity conductivity J kg-1oC-1

P Q R S T

2710 910 1050 2600 3800

660 27 240 1200 2020

910 1600 1300 670 800

High Low Low Low High

Expected answer :
(b) Suitable density:
- The density should be low - So that the container is light

Table 2.1 shows the characteristics of materials which could be used to make the food container
Charac.
Material

Density kg m-3

Melting point oC

Specific heat Thermal capacity conductivity J kg-1oC-1

P Q R S T

2710 910 1050 2600 3800

660 27 240 1200 2020

910 1600 1300 670 800

High Low Low Low High

Expected answer :
Suitable melting point: - The melting point should be high 2

- So that the container is able to withstand high temperature // does not melt

Table 2.1 shows the characteristics of materials which could be used to make the food container
Charac.
Material

Density kg m-3

Melting point oC

Specific heat Thermal capacity conductivity J kg-1oC-1

P Q R S T

2710 910 1050 2600 3800

660 27 240 1200 2020

910 1600 1300 670 800

High Low Low Low High

Expected answer :
Suitable specific heat capacity:
- High specific heat capacity is chosen - The container is heated up slowly

Table 2.1 shows the characteristics of materials which could be used to make the food container
Charac.
Material

Density kg m-3

Melting point oC

Specific heat Thermal capacity conductivity J kg-1oC-1

P Q R S T

2710 910 1050 2600 3800

660 27 240 1200 2020

910 1600 1300 670 800

High Low Low Low High

Expected answer :
Suitable thermal conductivity:

- Low thermal conductivity - To minimize the conduction of heat from the food // heat insulator

[1 mark] (b) You are asked to investigate the characteristics of the material in Table 2.1 and hence, determine which material is most suitable to be used to make the food container Explain the suitability of each characteristics in Table 2.1 and hence, determine which material is most suitable to be used to make the container. Justify your choice [10 marks]

(a) What is meant by melting point?

[SPM 2004/P2/SC/3(a)]

Table 2.1 shows the characteristics of materials which could be used to make the food container
Charac.
Material

Density kg m-3

Melting point oC

Specific heat Thermal capacity conductivity J kg-1oC-1

P Q R S T

2710 910 1050 2600 3800

660 27 240 1200 2020

910 1600 1300 670 800

High Low Low Low High

Expected answer :
Choice of the most suitable material :
- Material R is chosen - Because light container, does not melt when put hot foods, gets heats slowly and heat insulator

EXAMPLE 3:
Diagram 3.1 shows the design and the characteristics of five filament lamps. You are asked to determine the most suitable filament lamp to produce the brightest light.
Filament Nitrogen gas

Tungsten wire, thin and coiled Filament Nitrogen gas Nitrogen at high gas pressure Copper wire, thick and coiled Filament Nitrogen gas Nitrogen at low gas pressure Tungsten wire, thin and coiled Nitrogen gas at low pressure

Copper wire, thin and not coiled Filament Nitrogen Nitrogen gas at high gas pressure
Tungsten wire, thick & not coiled Filament Nitrogen gas at low Nitrogen pressure gas

Filament Nitrogen gas

Diagram 3.1

EXAMPLE 3:

Study the characteristics of the five filament lamp based on the following aspects: (i) Types of filament wire [2marks] (ii) Thickness of filament wire [2marks] (iii) Shape of filament wire [2marks] (iv) Pressure in the bulb [2marks] Explain the suitability of each characteristics of the lamps and then determine the most suitable filament lamp. Give a reason for your choice.

Tungsten wire, thin and coiled Filament Nitrogen gas Nitrogen at high gas pressure Copper wire, thick and coiled Filament Nitrogen gas Nitrogen at low gas pressure Tungsten wire, thin and coiled Nitrogen gas at low pressure

Copper wire, thin and not coiled Filament Nitrogen Nitrogen gas at high gas pressure
Tungsten wire, thick & not coiled Filament Nitrogen gas at low Nitrogen pressure gas

Filament Nitrogen gas

Diagram 3.1

Expected answer:
Suitable types of wire:
- Tungsten is more suitable - It has high melting point /Withstand high temperature // last longer

EXAMPLE 3:

Study the characteristics of the five filament lamp based on the following aspects: (i) Types of filament wire [2marks] (ii) Thickness of filament wire [2marks] (iii) Shape of filament wire [2marks] (iv) Pressure in the bulb [2marks] Explain the suitability of each characteristics of the lamps and then determine the most suitable filament lamp. Give a reason for your choice.

Tungsten wire, thin and coiled Filament Nitrogen gas Nitrogen at high gas pressure Copper wire, thick and coiled Filament Nitrogen gas Nitrogen at low gas pressure Tungsten wire, thin and coiled Nitrogen gas at low pressure

Copper wire, thin and not coiled Filament Nitrogen Nitrogen gas at high gas pressure
Tungsten wire, thick & not coiled Filament Nitrogen gas at low Nitrogen pressure gas

Filament Nitrogen gas

Diagram 3.1

Expected answer:
Suitable thickness of the filament wire:
- Thin wire is more suitable - To give out more heat

EXAMPLE 3:

Study the characteristics of the five filament lamp based on the following aspects: (i) Types of filament wire [2marks] (ii) Thickness of filament wire [2marks] (iii) Shape of filament wire [2marks] (iv) Pressure in the bulb [2marks] Explain the suitability of each characteristics of the lamps and then determine the most suitable filament lamp. Give a reason for your choice.

Tungsten wire, thin and coiled Filament Nitrogen gas Nitrogen at high gas pressure Copper wire, thick and coiled Filament Nitrogen gas Nitrogen at low gas pressure Tungsten wire, thin and coiled Nitrogen gas at low pressure

Copper wire, thin and not coiled Filament Nitrogen Nitrogen gas at high gas pressure
Tungsten wire, thick & not coiled Filament Nitrogen gas at low Nitrogen pressure gas

Filament Nitrogen gas

Diagram 3.1

Expected answer:
Suitable shape of filament wire:
- Coiled filament is more suitable - So that a long wire can be fitted inside the glass bulb // To give out more heat

EXAMPLE 3:

Study the characteristics of the five filament lamp based on the following aspects: (i) Types of filament wire [2marks] (ii) Thickness of filament wire [2marks] (iii) Shape of filament wire [2marks] (iv) Pressure in the bulb [2marks] Explain the suitability of each characteristics of the lamps and then determine the most suitable filament lamp. Give a reason for your choice.

Tungsten wire, thin and coiled Filament Nitrogen gas Nitrogen at high gas pressure Copper wire, thick and coiled Filament Nitrogen gas Nitrogen at low gas pressure Tungsten wire, thin and coiled Nitrogen gas at low pressure

Copper wire, thin and not coiled Filament Nitrogen Nitrogen gas at high gas pressure
Tungsten wire, thick & not coiled Filament Nitrogen gas at low Nitrogen pressure gas

Filament Nitrogen gas

Diagram 3.1

Expected answer:
Suitable pressure in the bulb:
- Contains nitrogen gas at low pressure - The bulb will not burst/explode after lights up for a longer time

EXAMPLE 3:

Study the characteristics of the five filament lamp based on the following aspects: (i) Types of filament wire [2marks] (ii) Thickness of filament wire [2marks] (iii) Shape of filament wire [2marks] (iv) Pressure in the bulb [2marks] Explain the suitability of each characteristics of the lamps and then determine the most suitable filament lamp. Give a reason for your choice.

Tungsten wire, thin and coiled Filament Nitrogen gas Nitrogen at high gas pressure Copper wire, thick and coiled Filament Nitrogen gas Nitrogen at low gas pressure Tungsten wire, thin and coiled Nitrogen gas at low pressure

Copper wire, thin and not coiled Filament Nitrogen Nitrogen gas at high gas pressure
Tungsten wire, thick & not coiled Filament Nitrogen gas at low Nitrogen pressure gas

Filament Nitrogen gas

Diagram 3.1

Expected answer:
Choice of the most suitable lamp:
- R is chosen - Because the filament made of tungsten, using thin and coiled wire and contains nitrogen gas at low pressure