Electronics Metals Quiz
October 1964 Popular Electronics

October 1964 Popular Electronics Table of Contents Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Popular Electronics, published October 1954 - April 1985. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.

This Electronics Metals Quiz appeared in the October 1964 edition of Popular Electronics. Given the era and obsolescence of some technologies, a couple of the drawings might not be recognizable to you. Accordingly, I feel obligated to clue you in on those. "B" is a television iconoscope, which was used in early TV video cameras. "D" is a phonograph stylus. For "F," keep in mind the prevailing semiconductor material at the time. "I" is a type of heater element that could be screwed into a light bulb socket (I used to have a couple). "J" is supposed to be a needle for a meter movement. Now that you know, have at it. The process of elimination should result in a good score. I got 10:10, but then I'm older than the quiz ;-)

Electronics Metals Quiz

By Robert P. Balin

Various metals are used in making electronic devices. Can you match the names of the metals listed at left (1-10) with the drawings of components (A-J) utilizing their special properties?

1  Alnico ___

2  Bronze ___

3  Germanium ___

4  Lead-Tin ___

5  Cesium ___

6  Tungsten ___

7  Osmium ___

8  Mercury ___

9  Nickel-Cadmium ___

10  Nichrome ___

See answers below...

Quizzes from vintage electronics magazines such as Popular Electronics, Electronics-World, QST, and Radio News were published over the years - some really simple and others not so simple. Robert P. Balin created most of the quizzes for Popular Electronics. This is a listing of all I have posted thus far.

Metals Quiz Answers

  1 - H)  Alnico is an alloy of iron, aluminum, nickel and cobalt, utilized in making permanent magnets.

  2 - J)  Phosphor Bronze springs are used in the manufacture of meter movements.

  3 -F)  Germanium doped with impurities such as arsenic or boron is employed in making transistors.

  4 - A)  Lead and Tin alloys are used in solder.

  5 - B)  Cesium is the photoemissive metal employed in the mosaics of television iconoscopes.

  6 - C)  Tungsten is used in lamp filaments.

  7 - D)  Osmium is a hard metal utilized in phonograph styli.

  8 - E)  Mercury is used to short the contacts of a mercury switch when the glass container is tilted.

  9 - G)  Nickel and Cadmium are used in rechargeable battery cells.

10 - I)  Nichrome is a high-resistance alloy of nickel and chromium used for heater elements.

Posted August 24, 2018