Human lives are made easier and more efficient each day by polymers used in clothing, electronic devices, sporting equipment, and so much more. Research and development of these materials is essential and an ever-growing field of study. Globally in education, increased emphasis is being placed on STEM fields for today’s students. Activities are needed that allow students to bridge between STEM fields in order to stress the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the use of knowledge and to raise awareness of scientific career opportunities. Physics and polymers are conceptually and literally “cross-linked” in the activity described herein. Sophomore-level college physics students are introduced to polymers and the idea of chemical cross-linking to generate different varieties of polymers. Students create three pre-determined variations of polymers and use the physics of collisions to investigate the impact forces on each of these polymer mixtures. Using digital force probes and graphical analysis software, students will examine graphs like the one shown below in Figure 1 to determine which mixture provides greater protection from impact and propose possible hypotheses that explain the increased protection. Based on these hypotheses, student will design and test their own polymers. Creating such “cross-links” between STEM fields for students ensures better scientists for the future.

Cross-linking physics and polymers: Making an impact in STEM education

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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