Bimetallic strip

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/bimetallic-strip

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the inventor?John Harrison
2. What is the year of key application?1759 (in marine chronometer H3)
3. What is a bimetallic strip and how does it bend with heat?A bimetallic strip is made of two different metals stuck together. When it gets hot or cold, one metal expands more than the other, so the strip bends. This bending can be used to sense or react to temperature changes.
4. Why did John Harrison use a bimetallic strip in his clock?John Harrison used it in his marine chronometer to keep the clock's balance spring the same length no matter the weather. The strip bent to adjust the spring, so the clock kept accurate time even on a hot or cold ship.

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE): A material property indicating the extent of expansion or contraction per degree of temperature change.
Thermal Actuation: The process of using heat to generate mechanical motion or control.
Horologist: A person who studies, makes, or repairs clocks and watches.
MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems): Tiny devices that combine electrical and mechanical components, often fabricated using semiconductor techniques.