Materials Matter
11 th Grade Engineering Module Overview
Topic: Materials
Grade Level: 11th
Course: Engineering - High School
Time Allotted for Module: 30 days
Prior Knowledge: Familiarity with computer spreadsheets and how to graph data.
Overview
This module will introduce students to the world of materials. The students will first encounter the basic
properties and characteristics of materials and how to categorize them, moving on to examine
mechanical, and thermal, properties, including how to measure these properties using different
methods. The students will then be introduced to metals, ceramics and polymers – the different types,
uses, their properties and characteristics, and how to measure them. Students will design their own
metallic Mars rover, learn how to write a technical brief, and use their knowledge to prepare a brief for
a NASA application.
Vocabulary
Ceramics: Ceramics are nonorganic, non-metallic solids prepared by the action of heat and subsequent
cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be
amorphous (e.g., a glass). Because most common ceramics are crystalline, the definition of
ceramic is often restricted to inorganic crystalline materials, as opposed to the non-crystalline
glasses.
Deformation, Elastic: Occurs when a material is strained (deformed) but returns to its original shape,
like a rubber band
Deformation, Plastic: Occurs when a material is strained (deformed) beyond its yield strength and
does not return to its original shape, like silly putty
Fatigue Strength: The maximum amount of stress a material can take one million times without
breaking
Flexure: A form of bending, flexure characterizes the behavior of a slender structural element
subjected to an external load applied perpendicularly to an longitudinal axis of the element.
Polymer: A polymer is a large molecule (macromolecule) composed of repeating structural units
typically connected by covalent chemical bonds.
Strain: The percent amount of elongation or compression of a material
Stress: The amount of force applied over the area of an object, computed by dividing force by area
Stress, Comprehensive: Stress that squeezes a material together
11th Grade Engineering Module Overview - Page 1
Tensile Stress: Stress that pulls a material apart
Tension: The magnitude of the pulling force exerted by a string, cable, chain, or similar object on
another object
Ultimate Tensile Strength: The maximum amount of tensile stress a material can take before
breaking
Yield Strength: The maximum amount of stress a material can take before it deforms plastically
(permanently)
Materials
DAY 1-2
Computer
Household items:
Plastics (polymer recycling codes 1-7)
Metals (aluminum, iron, etc.)
Glass (bottles and jars)
Compounds (salt, sugar, baking soda,
etc.)
Solutions (colored flavor, drinks, tea,
coffee, etc.)
Variety of materials that are
heterogeneous (granite, rocks,
wood, etc.)
DAY 3
Computer with Internet
Eight labels
Seven vials with caps, filled with the following:
- Iron filings
- Sulfur rolls
- Mossy zinc
- Graphite (replacement leads for mechanical
pencils work well)
- Silicon
- Mossy tin
- Carbon
(If the above materials are not available, some
substitutes are: paper clips, beebees,
nails, fishing weights, charcoal)
One dropper bottle
6M Hydrochloric acid
One hammer
Eight pieces of paper each measuring
approximately 3.5 × 5 inches
A conductivity apparatus such as 9-volt battery,
a small appliance light bulb, and three
pieces of insulated copper wire to make
an open circuit (the circuit will be
closed with each of the seven samples)
One test tube holder
Seven test tubes
Every student should have the following:
Safety goggles
A copy of Properties worksheet.pdf
DAY 4-6
Computer with Internet
Store-bought Silly Putty® and Slime® (to be used
for examination and discussion)
Student worksheet: Scavenger Hunt I
Student Worksheet: Scavenger Hunt 2
DAY 7
Computer
Materials Properties worksheet
Object from home
Post-it ®note chart paper
Markers
DAY 8-11
Computer
Polymer clay
Bucket
Piece of metal (Aluminum)
Piece of plastic
Piece of wood
Weights
Scale
Wooden base (6" x 1" x 2')
PVC plastic water pipe (3/4" x 10')
Pipe elbows (2 pcs)
Pipe flanges (1 pc)
11th Grade Engineering Module Overview - Page 2
Screws for flange
Bell wire
Large eye screw
Electronic project box
On/off switch
Pilot light
Push button switch
6 Volt battery holder
Wooden block (1" x 6" x 6")
Center punch
Screwdriver
Meter stick
Test materials
Tape or pins
Steel file
"Guide to Common Minerals"
Hand lens
5 Mineral samples
Copper penny
Glass square
Streak plate
DAY 12-28
Computer with Internet access
Science Standards
Nature of Science, Standard 1: Practice of Science
SC.912.N.1.1 Define a problem based on a specific body of knowledge, for example: biology,
chemistry, physics, and earth/space science, and do the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
pose questions about the natural world,
conduct systematic observations,
examine books and other sources of information to see what is already known,
review what is known in light of empirical evidence,
plan investigations,
use tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data (this includes the use of
measurement in metric and other systems, and also the generation and
interpretation of graphical representations of data, including data tables and graphs),
pose answers, explanations, or descriptions of events,
generate explanations that explicate or describe natural phenomena (inferences),
use appropriate evidence and reasoning to justify these explanations to others,
communicate results of scientific investigations, and
evaluate the merits of the explanations produced by others
Nature of Science, Standard 4: Science & Society
SC.912.N.4.2 Weigh the merits of alternative strategies for solving a specific societal problem by
comparing a number of different costs and benefits, such as human, economic, and
environmental.
Physical Science, Standard 8: Matter
SC.912.P.8.1 Differentiate among the four states of matter.
SC.912.P.8.2
Differentiate between physical and chemical properties and physical and chemical
changes of matter.
11th Grade Engineering Module Overview - Page 3
SC.912.P.8.7
Interpret formula representations of molecules and compounds in terms of composition
and structure.
Math Standards
Algebra, Standard 1: Real and Complex Number Systems
MA.912.A.1.4 Perform operations on real numbers (including integer exponents, radicals, percents,
scientific notation, absolute value, rational numbers, irrational numbers) using multistep and real-world problems.
Algebra, Standard 2: Relations and Functions
MA.912.A.2.13 Solve real-world problems involving relations and functions.
Algebra, Standard 10: Mathematical Reasoning and Problem Solving
MA.912.A.10.1 Use a variety of problem-solving strategies, such as drawing a diagram, making a chart,
guessing- and-checking, solving a simpler problem, writing an equation, working
backwards, and creating a table.
MA.912.A.10.2 Decide whether a solution is reasonable in the context of the original situation.
MA.912.A.10.4 Use counterexamples to show that statements are false.
Statistics, Standard 1: Formulating Questions
MA.912.S.1.1 Formulate an appropriate research question to be answered by collecting data or
performing an experiment.
References
ALEX Lesson Plan.pdf
http://alex.state.al.us/lesson_view.php?id=7676
Breaking Beams Lesson Plan
http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=http://www.teachengineering.org/collection
/cub_/activities/cub_mechanics/cub_mechanics_lesson07_activity1.xml
Classification_of_matter_lab.pdf (To be used as a review, if needed)
http://www.agpa.uakron.edu/p16/lessons/pdf/classification_print.pdf
Demoworks.pdf
http://www.strangematterexhibit.com/demoworks_final.pdf
DesignBriefTips.pdf
http://www.technologystudent.com/designpro/despro1.htm
DesignProcess.pdf
http://www.technologystudent.com/designpro/despro1.htm
DesignProjCheckoff.pdf
http://www.technologystudent.com/
11th Grade Engineering Module Overview - Page 4
Green Spinoffs from NASA
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/greenspace/spinoffs.html
Historic Solar Sail Deployment.pdf
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2008/26jun_nanosaild
How to write a technical brief.pdf
http://www.ehow.com/how_2146091_write-technical-brief.html
Impact resistance.pdf
part of Suited for Spacewalking
Materials Comparison WS.pdf
(teacher-created based on information from the www.strangematterexhibit.com website)
MaterialCostAnalysis.pdf
Dr Muhammad Al Salamah, Industrial Engineering, KFUPM
http://faculty.kfupm.edu.sa/SE/salamah/industrial_costing/material_cost_analysis.pdf
Materials Matter.pdf
(teacher-created based on information from the www.strangematterexhibit.com website)
Materials Matter Properties.pdf
(teacher-created based on information from the www.strangematterexhibit.com website)
Matter Activity
http://www.strangematterexhibit.com/properties.html
Metals and Nonmetals Lesson Plan.pdf
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/metalsandnonmetals/
Mohs Scale Lab.pdf
(source to be identified)
On Line Book Chapter 1: Magnetism
http://scitoys.com/scitoys/scitoys/magnets/magnets.html
Plastics.pdf
www.tryengineering.org “A Century of Plastics”
Pre-Presentation Worksheet.pdf
teacher-created
Presentation Rubric.pdf
teacher-created
Properties of Mars Worksheet.pdf
teacher-created
Properties of Materials Worksheet.pdf
teacher-created
Properties worksheet.pdf
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/worksheets/metalsandnonmetals/worksheet1.htm
l
Scavenger hunt.pdf
for use with http://pslc.ws/macrog/maindir.htm
11th Grade Engineering Module Overview - Page 5
Scavenger Hunt2.pdf
for use with http://pslc.ws/macrog/maindir.htm
Solar Sails.pdf
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/roboticexplorers/solar_sails.html
Strange Matter.pdf
http://www.strangematterexhibit.com/whatis.html
Strange Matter Website WS.pdf
(teacher-created based on information from the www.strangematterexhibit.com website)
StrangeMatterTeachersGuide.pdf
http://www.strangematterexhibit.com/teachersguide.pdf
Streak Test Data Sheet.pdf
(teacher-created based on information from the www.strangematterexhibit.com website)
Stressed and Strained Lesson Plan
http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=http://www.teachengineering.org/collection/
cub_/lessons/cub_mechanics/cub_mechanics_lesson07.xml
Suited for Spacewalking.pdf
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/143159main_Suited_for_Spacewalking.pdf
Teacher Resource Chapter6.pdf
http://www.virginia.edu/bohr/mse209/chapter6.htm
Temperature_of_Space.pdf
www.nasa.gov
Tensile strength test.pdf
part of Suited for Spacewalking
The Macrogalleria.pdf
http://pslc.ws/macrog/maindir.htm
The Macrogalleria website
http://pslc.ws/mactest/index.htm
Venn Diagram.pdf
teacher-created
11th Grade Engineering Module Overview - Page 6