INTERACTIVE MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING LAB KIT

RESEARCHERS ARE DEVELOPING AN INTERACTIVE MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING LAB KIT TO HELP EDUCATE STUDENTS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING LABS. THE KIT IS BEING DESIGNED TO PROMOTE "HANDS-ON" LEARNING. THE KIT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO COMPARE THEORETICAL STRENGTH AND ACTUAL STRENGTH OF DIFFERENT HIGH TECHNOLOGY MATERIALS. IT PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH READY-TO-USE TEST BARS THAT HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF LINEAR ELASTIC BRITTLE MATERIALS, SUCH AS CERAMICS. THIS INTERACTIVE LEARNING STYLE GIVES STUDENTS QUICK, CONCISE, WELL DEFINED ANSWERS WITH RESPECT TO THE EFFECT OF A FLAW SIZE, SHAPE, AND POSITION ON STRENGTHS OF MATERIALS.