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In this activity, learners discover that some plastics will shrink when you get them hot. Learners bake polystyrene in a regular oven and discover what happens. Safety note: Learners need an adult's help for this activity! Use this activity to talk about different types of plastics such as thermoplastics and thermosets.
- Under 5 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 1 cent - $1 per student
- Ages 4 - adult
- Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per student)
- A clear, disposable food container
- Sandpaper
- Permanent markers or colored pencils
- A cookie sheet
- Margarine or shortening
Subjects
-
Engineering and Technology
-
Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
-
Engineering
-
Physical Sciences
-
Heat and Thermodynamics
- Heat and Temperature
-
Chemistry
- Chemical Reactions
-
States of Matter
- Solids
-
Heat and Thermodynamics
Informal Categories
- Arts and Crafts
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Polymer Science Learning Foundation, 2004