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 arent 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

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 cant 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. Dont try to
remember everything; you couldnt 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

Page 2

What you must hand in

1.
2.
3.
4.

A printed and completed copy of the planning sheet (on Dr Hs 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

Page 3

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/

http://www.joesherlock.com/fifties4.html

Smart materials
http://www.sciam.com/explorations/050596explorations.html

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/

http://www.nature.com/nsu/000217/000217-8.html
http://www.dupont.com/
Glass
http://www.glasslinks.com/newsinfo/physics.htm

Kevlar
http://www.lbl.gov/MicroWorlds/Kevlar/

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

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

Carbon fibre
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1320/
http://www.mouchel.com/News/carbonbr.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)

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

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/

The future of materials

http://www.mrs.org/publications/bulletin/21stcen/

Silly Putty
http://www.vern.com/putty/links/

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

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.iop.org/Journals/sm

Page 4

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.

Example Topics
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