question_answer

           A factory produces aluminium saucepans with  plastic  handles.  It  obtains aluminium from a smelter and a plastic component from another factory. All the manufactured saucepans are sent to a warehouse                     (a)(i) Which raw material is likely to be most expensive to transport and why? (ii) Which raw material is likely to be the  cheapest to transport and why? (b) Do you think the cost of transporting the finished products after packaging is likely to be cheaper or more expensive than the cost of transporting aluminium and plastic? Why?  

Answer:

   (a) (i) Aluminium, because it is heavier than plastic and also the saucepan body is bulkier than the handle. (ii) Plastic is cheaper for the same reasons given in(i). (b) Cost of transporting finished products after packaging will be cheaper because they are likely to be enclosed in rectangular packing boxes, which can be easily transported in larger quantities by proper stacking, either by goods train or by truck.