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Lab Research to Engineer a Phosphorescent Bioplastic
| Content Provider | TeachEngineering: STEM curriculum for K-12 |
|---|---|
| Author | Sorrell, Jamie Hipp, Michael |
| Copyright Year | 2017 |
| Description | Students conduct lab research using the steps of the scientific method to design a biosolid that best meets specified objectives (criteria, constraints). They learn about the light mechanism that changes ultraviolet bead color and see how three different light wavelengths (UV/black light, visible/LED, infrared/heat) affect a phosphorescence powder. They are challenged to engineer a bioplastic embedded with phosphorescence powder that has certain characteristics—to be structurally sound and glow brightly. Teams write hypotheses and determine independent variable details. They collect quantitative and qualitative data, then share their conclusions via posters and slides. As an extension option, they make glowing toy figurine molds from the best chemical matrix. Students gain first-hand experience with the steps of the scientific method as well as the overarching engineering design process as they conduct lab research with the aim to create a bioplastic with certain properties. Students learn about the light mechanism that causes ultraviolet bead color change, observe the effect of different light waves on a phosphorescence powder, and see the connection between florescence, phosphorescence and wavelength. Students compose hypotheses and determine experimental procedure details, as teams engineer variations on a bioplastic solid embedded with phosphorescence powder. The objective is to make a structurally sound bioplastic without reducing its glowing properties from the powder embedded within its matrix. Groups conduct qualitative and quantitative analyses of their engineered plastics, then recap and communicate their experiment conclusions in the form of a poster, slides and verbal presentation. As an extension, teams make their own testing apparatuses. As a further extension, they combine all the group results to determine which bioplastic matrix best achieves the desired properties and then “manufacture” the optimum bioplastic into glowing toy figurine end products! Many handouts, instructions, photos and rubrics are provided. |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Rights Holder | University of Southern Mississippi Regents of The University of Colorado |
| Subject Keyword | Chemistry Physics Science and Technology |
| Content Type | Text |
| Time Required | PT2H45M |
| Education Level | Class VIII Class IX Class X Class XI Class XII |
| Pedagogy | Experimental Activity |
| Resource Type | Hands-on |
| Subject | Physics Chemistry Technical |
