500
Shield the machine from oxygen
Emily is designing a welding machine that can be used to weld thin sheets of steel. The machine uses electricity to heat a thin piece of wire. When the wire touches a metal surface, it melts. The melted wire can be used to bond two pieces of steel together.
One problem Emily has with her machine is that oxygen mixes with the melted wire, causing it to rust quickly. Which of the following is the best way for Cathy to fix this design problem?