LESSON DESCRIPTION:
Using their bare hands, students perform compression, tensile, sheer and abrasion tests on various materials including stretchable plastic films, bulletproof vest thread, mylar film, un-tearable paper, and very soft metal wire.

TIME REQUIRED: One Hour

OBJECTIVES:
Students will learn about material science and some of the various types of tests scientists can do on materials. Students will compare the strength of materials that may appear similar but have very different properties. For example, paper tears easily, but tyvex doesn’t. Household thread breaks easily, whereas Kevlar is extremely difficult to break. (“Bulletproof” vests are made out of Kevlar thread.)

FACILITIES REQUIREMENTS:
Minimal facilities requirements.

SAFETY:
Students are not allowed to use their teeth to test any of the materials in this lesson.

CALIFORNIA SCIENCE STANDARDS ALIGNMENT

Kindergarden: 1st Grade: 2nd Grade: 3rd Grade: 4rth Grade:   5th Grade:   6th Grade: