Conductivity of Metals
Assessment
Computer processors can be thought of as the "brain" of most computers. Certain parts of processors must be made from metals that efficiently transfer heat (thermal conductance) and electricity (electrical conductance). Computer engineers designing a processor collected data about the thermal and electrical conductance of different metals. Your task is to help them understand the data and decide which metal is the most efficient at transferring heat and electricity so that they can use that metal to build a computer processor.
Computer processors can be thought of as the “brain” of most computers. Certain parts of processors must be made from metals that efficiently transfer heat (thermal conductance) and electricity (electrical conductance). Computer engineers designing a processor collected data about the thermal and electrical conductance of different metals. Your task is to help them understand the data and decide which metal is the most efficient at transferring heat and electricity so that they can use that metal to build a computer processor. Click Next to get started!
Topics and standards: Science, Energy, Physical Science, PS3.B, PS3.A, Electricity & Magnetism, MS-PS3-3, Analyzing & Interpreting Data, Flow of Energy and Matter, Grades 6-8, 3D Science Tasks, Thermal Energy, Tuva + ETS, 6-ETS1-2, Assessment, 3.2.6-8.M