Stop the Stretching
Students learn about composite materialsCopyright 2009 PerOX, Wikimiedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Composite_3d.png
Students are given the (hypothetical) engineering challenge to design and test a new composite material (one made from two or more materials bonded together) for use as the webbing for lawn chairs. They use thin plastic sheeting, masking tape, string and hot glue, aiming to achieve a design that holds the greatest possible load in tension with the least amount of stretch. Acting as engineers, students design and test strips of plastic chair webbing, learning about composite materials and tension as a force that acts on structural components and experiencing the engineering design/test/redesign process.
Engineers use their knowledge of material properties, such as the ability to withstand tension and compression, to choose the most suitable materials for their design of all sorts of structures. In addition, engineers create new materials, such as composite materials, which combine the properties of two or more material components. From skyscraper foundations to artificial tissues used to transplant organs, composites are designed to achieve the ideal material properties for specific purposes.
- Through a hands-on group design problem, students learn about tension as a force and how it acts on structural components.
- Students learn about composite materials and how they can withstand higher forces.