Stretch one's mind about viscoelastic materials. Future engineers learn about viscoelastic materials and how they differ from solids and fluids. They discover how the molecular structures of the materials relate to their properties, including strain rate dependence, stress relaxation, creep, hysteresis, and preconditioning.

Concepts

elasticity, viscosity, molecular structure, engineering design, solids, fluids

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Instructional Ideas

• Invite a materials engineer to give a presentation
  

Classroom Considerations

• Seventh of 11 parts in the Next-Generation Surgical Tools in the Body unit
• Resource suggests conducting the first half of the associated activity, Creepy Silly Putty, before the lesson
  

Pros

• Includes a PowerPoint presentation and worksheets to use with the class
• Provides background information for instructors
  

Cons

• None