Curated OER
Activity: Leaning Tower of Pasta
A well-laid-out lesson plan, this can be used in an engineering, STEM, or physical science course. Laboratory groups design a structure using pasta and marshmallows, measure its height and weight, and then discover the load that it can...
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Molecular Workbench Showcase: Nanotechnology
A collection of simulations on nano materials, nano applications, and machinery at the nano level. Students can learn about carbon nanotubes, material strength, a conveyor belt made on the nanoscale, and sputttering.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: Robert Hooke
The transcript of a talk given on the syndicated radio broadcast titled "The Engines of Our Ingenuity." Interesting account of Robert Hooke. Using a captivating and engaging story line, the article tells of Hooke's many interests in...
University of Florida
University of Florida: Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Website for the University of Florida's Department of Materials Science and Engineering. The site has links to information on programs, research, faculty, and facilities.
PBS
Pbs: Nova: Making Stuff: Stronger
The first in a four-part PBS series, hour-long video defines "strength" of materials, with examples ranging from steel cables to mollusk shells. Insight from research and experts offers a look into the process of "re-engineering"...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Are Laminates Stronger?
If you love to hit the half pipe with your snowboard or skateboard, then you have tested the strength and durability of laminates. Laminates are sandwiches of different materials that are glued together in layers to give strength and...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Stressed Out? Take a Break With This Project!
Is an I-beam as strong as a solid beam of the same size? What if you include weight in the comparison: which beam has the greater strength-to-weight ratio? Would an I-beam be stronger than a solid rectangular beam of the same weight?...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Strength in Numbers?
Ever try to tear a telephone book in half? Even though you can easily rip one or a few pages to shreds, the entire phone book has strength in numbers and holds together. This project is an introduction to measuring and comparing the...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Getting Critical Over Colloids
What is a colloid? If you have made Oobleck out of corn starch and water, then you know that a colloid is a mixture that acts like a solid and a liquid at the same time. This activity helps you determine the critical factors that...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Testing Sunscreen Effectiveness
The goal of this project is to measure the effectiveness of different sunscreen products for blocking ultraviolet-A (UVB) and ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays from sunlight. This project shows you how to use a UV detector to measure rays of light.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Which Is the Better Insulation Material?
You've probably noticed that the price of gasoline can fluctuate a great deal from one year to the next. Using good insulation material is one way to conserve energy and save money. Learn here which insulation materials work better than...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Bacterial Resistant Materials and the Best Disinfectant
If you'd rate yourself high on the bacteriophobia scale, just keep on scrolling down to the next project. Bacteria are all around us, and normally our body's defenses keep us blissfully unaware of them. If you don't mind finding out...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Which Metal Is the Most Resistant to Corrosion?
Here's a practical engineering challenge: you need to build an enclosure for your dogs, using material that they can't chew through. It's going to be a lot of work to build, so you want to do it right. What material should you choose for...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: The Viscosity of Motor Oil
The insides of a car engine get very hot when the engine is running. Motor oil lubricates the moving parts, to keep the engine operating smoothly. Learn what happens to motor oil as the engine temperature goes up.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Does Chemical Lightening Affect the Structure of Human Hair?
Hair strands can be used as the basis for a hygrometer, a device which measures the humidity level in the air. The goal of this project is to determine whether chemical lightening treatments affect the natural elasticity of human hair.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Fallen Arches: The Surprising Strength of Eggshells
Arches have been used for structural engineering since ancient times. This experiment tests the strength of a naturally occurring arch shape: the shell of an egg. How much weight do you think an eggshell can support?
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: How Does Packaging Affect the Ripening of Fruit?
Why do different types of fruits come packaged in different ways? In this project, you will experiment with different ways of packaging fruit to see if it has an effect on the freshness of the fruit. Will a different kind of packaging...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Coke & Mentos Nucleation Goes Nuclear!
You may have seen it on You Tube and David Letterman - the exploding Coke and Mentos experiment? But what is it that makes the reaction happen? In this experiment you will see if tiny dimples called nucleation sites have anything to do...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Sand Structure: Measuring Density and Porosity of Sand
For many kids, a day at the beach would not be complete without building a sandcastle. Have you ever wondered how it is that you can pack sand into a mold for a sandcastle? Do some kinds of sand pack better than others? This project will...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Wave Blockers
What do the radio, TV, radio controlled cars, and cell phones all have in common? They all use invisible waves to transmit information. Find out which materials block radio waves, and which materials allow radio waves to pass through in...
Other
Case Western Reserve University: Introduction to Materials Engineering
A curriculum resource from an introduction to materials course taught at Case Western Reserve University. Includes teaching overheads, homework assignments, and exams.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Repairing Broken Bones
Students learn about how biomedical engineers aid doctors in repairing severely broken bones. They learn about using pins, plates, rods and screws to repair fractures. They do this by designing, creating and testing their own prototype...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Bone Crusher
Students use a tension-compression machine or an alternative bone-breaking setup to see how different bones fracture differently and with different amounts of force, depending on their body locations. Teams determine bone mass and...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: e.g. Benedict's Ambulance Patient Safety Challenge
Students are given a fictional client statement- the engineering challenge- and are directed to follow the steps of the EDP to design prototype patient safety systems for small-size model ambulances.