Walton High
AS Materials
Presentation
Physics in Use Coursework Booklet
Dr. S. Harding.
2008-2009
Materials Presentation Briefing sheet
Researching.
Make notes as you read or print out pages from the Internet or CD-ROM. Keep a list of things you
may need but aren’t sure, including page numbers or web addresses. This will avoid frustration
later. Keep a look out for images that would work well on Powerpoint.
In this activity you are looking for these types of information:
when and how the material was developed (where, using what etc.)
who were the people who developed it (or person)
which material(s) did it replace,
where and how it is used. (use of physics and calculations)
Organising the research.
Take the information that you have and decide what will go on the handout, what will go on the
poster and what you will say. There may be a lot of overlap between them but remember they serve
different purposes. You may find it easier to prepare what you say last because you will have
internalised a great deal about your research by the time you have prepared the rest.
Preparing the Powerpoint
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The Powerpoint needs to make an impact. This means that you need to think about using
colour effectively.
Have a title slide and a contents slide to signpost the audience as to what you will be
discussing
Likewise end with a summary slide and list of references (also reference on each slide i.e.
beneath images or data tables etc…)
Imagine what it will look like from a distance (use a legible font size and colour scheme).
Keep the information i.e. words on it to a minimum (i.e. 5 bullet points maximum per slide).
Keep diagrams simple or simplify complex ones.
Remember the slides are a backdrop to your talk, they should illustrate not duplicate what
you are saying
The audience could be anyone, a younger student, parent, or visitor with little or no
knowledge of physics.
Do not succumb to “Powerpointitus” and throw in loads of transitions, animations etc…
keep it simple.
Try to avoid more than 1 slide per minute, give people time to take stuff in
Preparing the talk.
The thing that you must avoid is reading from a script. It is better to say less in a conversational
way than read aloud for 5 minutes. Imagine that you are telling someone about the episode of a
series on television that they missed. You are telling a story, not blinding them with facts. Avoid
dates anything that may trip you up if you can’t remember exactly. Prepare notes on postcards,
writing on them key words or phrases in the story. Divide your talk into three sections e.g. the
development of the material, the person or people behind it, where and how it is used. For each
have about three things to say or major points around which you can elaborate. Don’t try to
remember everything; you couldn’t recite the television episode word for word but you can tell the
story. Feel free to use props or samples of your material
Materials Presentation
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What you must hand in
1.
2.
3.
4.
A printed and completed copy of the planning sheet (on Dr H’s website)
A printed version of your powerpoint
A printed version of your speaking notes
A list of your references (i.e. the last slide)
You must not talk for more than 5 mins (we will time and cut you off)
Materials Presentation
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Web links for materials research coursework
General starting points
http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/records/NI000666.html
http://www.mse.utah.edu/material/wpstring.html
http://www.mse.cornell.edu/courses/engri111//
http://www.aip.org/success/designsfuture/
http://sciencegems.com/HSG/GradMaterial.html
http://hypertextbook.com/facts/
MatWeb, Your Source for Materials Information MatWeb's database
includes thermoplastic and thermoset polymers such as ABS, nylon,
polycarbonate, polyester, and polyolefins; metals such as aluminum,
cobalt, copper, lead, magnesium, nickel, steel, superalloys, titanium
and zinc alloys; ceramics; plus a growing list of semiconductors,
fibers, and other engineering materials.
http://www.matweb.com/
Kevlar
http://www.lbl.gov/MicroWorlds/Kevlar/
Plastics in cars
http://www.sae.org/automag/plastics/05.htm
Conducting polymers – Nobel prize site
http://www.nobel.se/announcement/2000/chemistry.html
http://www.designinsite.dk/htmsider/m1328.htm
http://homepage.dtn.ntl.com/colin.pratt/cpoly.htm
Light emitting polymers
http://www.lowendmac.com/misc/2k0821.html
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news_224537.html
http://www.briefme.com/a/article.cgi?id=28935&uid=284625
http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG19990210S0057
http://www.engineering2us.com/editorial/features/jul00/f_20000707.
asp
MDF
http://www.anu.edu.au/Forestry/wood/mdf/toc.html
http://www.pbmdf.com/
http://www.wwpa.org/woodinfo.htm (all woods included here)
Structures and Materials Improving Air and Space Travel
http://www.larc.nasa.gov/research/sandm/
Spin offs from space research
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/pao/factsheets/factsheets/spinoffs/
Silly Putty
http://www.vern.com/putty/links/
International Rubber Research and Development Board
http://www.irrdb.org/
Plastics
http://www.set.usm.edu/~frobinsn/intro_to_plastics.html
Materials Presentation
http://www.joesherlock.com/fifties4.html
Smart materials
http://www.sciam.com/explorations/050596explorations.html
http://www.iop.org/Journals/sm
http://www.nature.com/nsu/000217/000217-8.html
http://www.dupont.com/
Glass
http://www.glasslinks.com/newsinfo/physics.htm
Bullet proofing
http://www.npo-sm.ru/e_index.html
http://www.ce.ufl.edu/activities/bullet/buletndx.html
http://www.bpt.co.za/ship.htm
Carbon fibre
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1320/
http://www.mouchel.com/News/carbonbr.htm
Concrete
http://www.takenaka.co.jp/takenaka_e/dome_e/history/tech/concrete.
html
http://ebooks.whsmithonline.co.uk/encyclopedia/13/M0039713.htm
Iron
http://web.ulib.csuohio.edu/SpecColl/glihc/articles/carrhist.html
http://www.mohawk.net/~djberry/Environmental/iron2.htm
http://www.autosteel.org/
Composites
http://callisto.my.mtu.edu/MY472/
Nanomaterials
http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/alliance/partners/ApplicationTechnologies/
Nanomaterials.html
http://www.nanomat.com/nanoint.htm
http://www.healthtech.com/conference/00mem/abstracts/baker.htm
The future of materials
http://www.mrs.org/publications/bulletin/21stcen/
Ceramics
http://www.ceramics.org/
http://www.ceramics.org/outreach/precollege.asp (includes movies!!)
http://www.ceramics.com/list.html
http://www.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/9611.Kokini.ceramic.html
http://www.nvinet.com/~cffc/engines.htm
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Assessment
Strands of assessment in the Physics in Use task
1. Quality of the research and presentation
Does the presentation have a clear context? Has the student worked independently, taking advice
where appropriate? Is there a good range of sources, correctly attributed and listed? Is it presented
clearly, with good use of illustrations, images and data where appropriate?
Level 1
Some data and facts about the chosen
material are included as a consequence of
substantial guidance having been given, with
at least one identified source used, and the
content of the presentation is related to the
title but lacks coherence.
Level 3
The report has a definite focus, with work
produced independently with some advice,
with some sources identified, and the
presentation shows care in ordering and
choice of data and illustrations.
Level 5
The presentation has a clear focus, with
substantial independent work, taking advice
where appropriate, a good range of sources
have been used, they are clearly attributed,
illustrations are well chosen, there is a clear
structure to the presentation that aids clarity.
2. Use and understanding of physics
Does the presentation include a substantial amount of physics at AS standard? Has the student
used a range of material properties at microscopic and macroscopic scales to explain the use of
the material in its context? Has the student shown understanding of physics in interpreting and
explaining the behaviour of the material in its context?
Level 1
The presentation is simple, with aspects of
the work not linked to the topic and in which
the physics used is mainly descriptive.
Level 3
Relevant physics at AS Level is included in
development of the work, with at least one
aspect of the topic linked in terms of physical
explanation to the context chosen and
explained demonstrating some
understanding of the physics included.
Level 5
A substantial amount of physics at AS Level
is included, with a range of aspects of the
topic linked in terms of physical explanation
to the context chosen and explained with a
sound understanding of the physics included.
Materials Presentation
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Example Topics
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Aluminium: a shining example to society?
• Bullet proof glass
• Carbon fibre in Racing Cars
• Composite materials in skis
• Concrete through the ages
• Contact lens materials
• Glass fibre boats, planes etc
• Glass in architecture
• Gold in jewellery
• Gore-tex used in making quality waterproof products
• Neoprene - not just a wet suit material
• Nitinol in dentistry
• Rubber used for car tyres
• Space shuttle tiles
Materials Presentation
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