B - Materials - Transforming Resources - Interpretive planDecember 2 2016 10:00 AM

Gallery: Transforming Resources.

Module B: Materials

Module Big Idea: To satisfy our needs and wants we produce objects from materials which derive from natural resources.

Module Core messages:

  1. Our everyday products are made from four categories of materials which are produced from natural resources.
  2. Material properties inform their use as products.
  3. The properties of the elements contributes to material properties.
  4. Over time, the materials that we have developed and used to produce things around us have changed.

B. Materials.

Module L1 title: Materials

Module L1 text: People have always experimented with variety of materials to meet their needs and wants, constantly using natural resources to develop new materials and improving old.

B1. Introduction and brief history of materials. Provides visitors with basic information that they need to understand this module and place current developments in historical context.

Accessibility considerations.
Physical Accessibility - Assure appropriate reach range for touch and clear knee space. Close approach for objects.
Sensory Accessibility -
Intellectual Accessibility - Text shall be written for language skill of about Grade 6 level reading comprehension. Use short sentences and avoid words that represent complex concepts.
Accessibility Exemptions:
Programming and outreach opportunities. Could have additional materials and develop a game for people to guess which category of material does this common, everyday object contain.

Visitor experiences:

The B1-1 Four categories of materials and B1-2-2 When were these products first used could potentially go together if needed for space – prefer to keep separate if space allows, but some options would be helpful.

B1-1 Four categories of materials.Visitors encounter ceramics, metals, polymers and composites in a display on the backside of artifact alley that they can touch to feel the different materials. Visitors learn about the properties of these categories, from which natural resources these materials derive and the impacts of the lifecycle of these resources.

Maximum 50 words for each category of material (total 200 words)

B1-1 L2 title: Four categories of materials

B1-1 L2 text: Materials have a set of attributes, or properties such as density, strength, toughness, elasticity that make them perfect, or not, for the objects that we need and want in our lives.” It could be here or in the test lab.

B1-1-1 L3group title: Ceramics

B1-1-1 L3group caption: Ceramics are inorganic and non-metallic. The word “ceramic” comes from Greek ‘keramos” = pottery or potter’s clay.

B1-1-1 L3 Recycling Callout Ceramics: Recycling ceramics - We could do better! (call-out) - Almost all ceramics (and 100% of glass) can be recycled endlessly, but other than glass few municipalities collect them as recyclable waste.

Image: Electron microscopy of ceramic

B1-1-1 PCap: typically crystalline in nature, except for glass and enamel.

B1-1-1 Artifacts and props: glass, brick, tiles, pottery, cement, silicon, transistors, graphite, diamond

B1-1-1 Artifact and prop captions:

B1-1-1 PrCap1: Glass – can be translucent, brittle, non-corrosive, stiff

B1-1-1 PrCap2: Brick - dense, lightweight, non-corrosive, stiff

B1-1-1 PrCap3: Tiles - Durable, Strong, Hard, Non-corrosive, Stiff

B1-1-1 PrCap4: Transistors Good insulator (electricity and heat),

Arrows to different properties pros/cons below coming from the artifacts and props:

●Pros: durable, strong and hard, good insulator (electricity and heat), can be translucent, some have magnetic properties, dense and lightweight, non-corrosive, easily sterilized

●Cons: brittle, stiff

B1-1-1 Natural resource: big piece of clay (possibly with gloves?) or acrylic cylinder of sand

B1-1-1 PrCap5: Sand

B1-1-2 L3 group title: Metals

B1-1-2 L3 Group caption: Metals are chemical elements that are good conductors of heat and electricity and reflect light when polished.

B1-1-2 L3 text Recycling: Recycling metals: We could do better! 100% of metals can be recycled endlessly.

B1-1-2 Image: electron microscope image of metal

B1-1-2PCap:

B1-1-2 Artifacts/props: copper wire, iron frying pan, steel screws, a nickel, aluminum foil

Captions for artifacts/props

Arrows to different properties pros/cons below coming from the artifacts and props:

Pros: strength, ductility, high melting points, thermal and electrical conductivity, and toughness

Cons: corrosive, fatigue

B1-1-2 PrCap1: Copper wire – electrical conductivity, ductile

B1-1-2 PrCap2: Iron frying pan (rusted) – Thermal conductivity, corrosive, toughness, fatigue

B1-1-2 PrCap3: Steel screws– strength, high melting point, toughness

B1-1-2 PrCap4: A nickel, toughness

B1-1-2 Natural resources: big piece of rock with iron or many minerals

B1-1-2 PrCap5 – Iron ore or ore with many minerals in it

B1-1-3 L3 group title: Polymers

B1-1-3 L3 group caption: Polymers are substances composed of repeated chemically bonded units.

B1-1-3 L3 textRecycling: Recycling Polymers? It depends on what it is.

Plastics: up to 80% recyclable,

Paper: up to 85% recyclable (but only 4-6 times)

B1-1-3 image: Microscopic image of a polymer

B1-1-3 PCap:TBD once image chosen

B1-1-3 artifacts/props: rubber, plastic, Kevlar, wood, polyethylene, polyester, polystyrene, nylon, Teflon, pectin, cellulose, starch, silk, leather, cotton, synthetic fibre,

Polymers can be natural and synthetic.

Arrows to different properties pros/cons below coming from the artifacts and props:

Pros: less dense than metals or ceramics, resist atmospheric and other forms of corrosion, offer good compatibility with human tissue, exhibit excellent resistance to the conduction of electrical current

Cons: do not biodegrade easily and produce waste, flammable, not resistant to heat above 200C

B1-1-3 PrCap1: Rubber - Non-corrosive, lightweight, insulator, not resistant to heat, do not biodegrade easily

B1-1-3 PrCap2: Plastic - Non-corrosive, lightweight, insulator, not resistant to heat,do not biodegrade easily

B1-1-3 PrCap3: Kevlar - Non-corrosive, lightweight, not resistant to heat,do not biodegrade easily

B1-1-3 PrCap4: Paper - Non-corrosive, lightweight, flammable, easily biodegradable

B1-1-3 Natural resource: piece of wood; acrylic container of oil

B1-1-3 PrCap5: Wood

B1-1-3 PrCap16: Oil

B1-1-4 L3 group title: Composites

B1-1-4 L3 group text: A combination of two or more distinct materials, selected for their attractive properties.

B1-1-4 L3 text Recycling: Recycling composites: We could do better! Recycling is difficult but many composites can be reused.

B1-1-4 Image: electron microscope image of composite

B1-1-4 PCap: TBD

B1-1-4 Props/artifacts: reinforced concrete, fiberglass, glass\PVB windows (car), laminates, carbon fiber polymers, Kevlar\composite fiber

Arrows to different properties pros/cons below coming from the artifacts and props:

Pros: properties are tailored to needs, in general light, stiff and strong, tough

Cons: costs, not resistant to heat above 250C

B1-1-4 PrCap1: Reinforced concrete - Stiff, strong, tough, heavy weight,

B1-1-4 PrCap2: fiberglass - Non-corrosive, shock and wear resistant, lightweight, low conductivity, stiff, strong, ductile, weather resistant

B1-1-4 PrCap3: glass/PVB window (car) - Non-corrosive, shock and wear resistant, lightweight, low conductivity, stiff, strong, ductile, weather resistant

B1-1-4 PrCap4: Carbon fibre - Non-corrosive, shock and wear resistant, lightweight, strong, ductile, high temperature tolerance, non-flammable, expensive

B1-1-4 Natural resource: acrylic container sand (as above)

B1-1-4 PrCap5l: sand

B1-2 History

B1-2-1 L2 title: Materials through time.

B1-2-1 L2 text: Materials were a crucial commodity throughout the history and have been the inspiration of wars, trade routes, and names of ages.

B1-2-1 image

B1-2-1 Image caption: The oldest recorded writing that we have talks about copper trade.

B1-2-1 Maps of trade routes, global and Canadian:

Map Caption: (10 words each) depending on which maps we use

B1-2-2:

B1-2-2 L3 text: People have always experimented with variety of materials to meet their needs, constantly developing new materials and improving old.

B1-2-2 L3instructional text: Mission: Can you guess when humans first use these materials in products?

(Props with flip panels and reveals of the dates.)

(Text for flip panels): titles of each category of material, each product, and reveal (date)

B1-2-2-1 Flip panel group1:

Ceramics:

-Ceramic tile – 14,000 BC

-Glass - 8000 BC

-Brick – 10,000 BC

B1-1-2-2 Flip panel group 2:

Metals:

-copper jewellery - 8,000 BC

-Gold – 6,000 BC

-aluminum - 1827

B1-1-2-2 Flip panel group 3:

Polymers:

-fire wood – 1 million BC

-natural rubber ball – 1600 BC

-Bakelite plastic e.g. – 1907 Bakelite

-Spandex - 1959

B1-1-2-2 Flip panel group4:

Composite:

-felt – 20,000 BC

-plywood – 3400 BC

-optical fiber – 1970

B3 Material test labVisitors engage in hands-on exploration of materials to recognize that we make use of specific material properties to meet our needs and wants.

Accessibility considerations.
Physical Accessibility - Assure appropriate reach range and clear knee space. Close approach for objects. Assure hands-on interactives are safe and not reaching ‘fail’/break point. Assure 70% contrast.
Sensory Accessibility - This is very hands-on, provide port for alternative input/output device.
Intellectual Accessibility - Choose easily understandable icons and minimal, simple text. Text shall be written for language skill of about Grade 6 level reading comprehension. Use short sentences and avoid words that represent complex concepts.
Accessibility Exemptions: Slide.
Programming and outreach opportunities. This section has many different options for programming and education. Please see document on enterprise:

Visitor experiences:

L2 title: Material test lab

L2 text: Mission: experiment to discover which materials have the properties that best meet our needs and wants.

For each activity, 40 words including instructional copy, labels of the materials and short object caption.

B3-1 Hockey sticks. Activity: visitors can bend carbon fibre, aluminum and wood sticks to see the difference of flex. A ceramic stick might be present with a note about how the properties don’t make it a good stick.

B3-1 L3 title: Hockey sticks.

B3-1 L3 subtitle: Strength and flexibilityFlexibility are important material properties for hockey sticks.

B3-1 L3 instructional copy:Bend the sticks to test flexibility

B3-1 L3 shout out: Flexibility is the amount that an object can bend without breaking.

B3-1-2 Props: wood, aluminum, carbon fibre hockey sticks which visitors can bend to experience flexibility of materials. Ceramic – we will need to determine the best way to convey the flexibility.

B3-1 PrCap1:Wood (polymer)

B3-1 PrCap2: Aluminum (metal)

B3-1 PrCap3:Carbon fibre (composite)

B3-1-1 Artifact or loan or prop: a hockey stick from a well-known player. (Daniel Alfredsson, ZdenoChara, Mika Zibanazhad, Mike Fisher, Shea Weber, Alex Ovechkin, Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux)

B3-1-1 Artifact Tombstone: TBD

B3-1-1 Artifact caption: (very short caption - 10 words)

B3-1-2 L3 text (summary):

B3-1-2 Photo: image of player taking slapshot and seeing stick bend.

B3-1-2 PCap1: Carbon fibre is the most flexible and also strongest making it desired by today’s hockey players.

Visitors can see hockey sticks used by Ottawa Senators and learn about the materials which are used to make them, and how the material choice impacts their performance.

B3-2 Bouncy balls.Activity: visitors can flip over plexiglass columns (with measurements on inside) which contain balls made of different materials (rubber, metal, ceramic, wood?) to see which ball bounces the highest.

B3-2 L3 title: Bouncey balls

B3-2 subtitle: How high a ball can bounce is largely determined by how it’s elasticity.

B3-2 L3 instructional copy:Flip over the columns to testwhich ball bounces higher.

B3-2 L3 shoutout: Elasticity is how well an object returns to its original form after stretching or squeezing.

B3-2-2 Props:balls made of wood, metal, ceramic and composite that visitors can bounced to experience elasticity of materials.

B3-2 PrCap1: Wood (Polymer)

B3-2 PrCap2:Steel (metal)

B3-2 PrCap3: XXX (ceramic)

B3-2 PrCap4:XXX (composite)

B3-2-1 Artifact or Prop: Wham-o Super Ball(can we try to get the original 1965 ball?).

Tombstone and a very short caption.

B3-2-1 Artifact Tomb – if artifact

B3-2-1 A/PrCap1: Wham-o Super Ball is made from polymer and has maximal elasticity – meaning it bounces really high!

B3-3 Slides Activity: Experience overview: Visitors can turn and hand wheel to change the angle on a table which contains ramps made from 4 different materials. As the angle of the table increases, metal pucks start to slide down the ramps, depending on the material the ramp is made of (and the friction between the puck and the ramp material).

B3-3 Guitars Activity: Visitors can increase or decrease the tension on strings made from different materials (metal (nickel plated steel?), nylon, gut?, silk, ) then ‘pluck’ them to make them vibrate and hear what sounds they make.

B3-3 L3 title: Guitars

B3-3 L3 subtitle: The tension of the strings largely determines what notes they produce.

B3-3 L3 instructional copy: Turn the dial to change the tension. Pluck the strings to hear the note.

B3-3 L3 shoutout: Tension is a measure of the amount of force applied when pulling on an object such as a string.

B3-3 Props: guitar strings made from metal, polymers, composite and ceramic (?) that visitors can stretch and vibrate to experience tension of materials.

B3-3 PrCap1: Silk (Polymer)

B3-3 PrCap2: Nickel-plated steel (metal)

B3-3 PrCap3: XXX (ceramic)

B3-3 PrCap4: XXX (composite)

B3-3-1 Artifact or loan or prop: a guitar from a well-known artist or alternatively we can use an electric guitar form the collection(reach out to Bruce Springsteen, Justin Bieber, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Geddy Lee, David Usher; Celine Dion’s violin).

Tombstone and a very short caption.

B3-3-1: Image of rock star

B3-3-1 Pcap: Nickel-plated steel is used on most guitars today.

B4 Periodic table. Visitors explore which elements make up everyday objects and how the elements contribute to material properties in complimentary digital and 3D periodic tables.

Accessibility considerations.
Physical Accessibility - Assure appropriate reach range and clear knee space. Close approach for objects. Assure 70% contrast. Periodic table interactive is a touch screen.
Sensory Accessibility – Tactile and text are incorporated. Is there raised text or auditory?
Intellectual Accessibility - Choose easily understandable icons and minimal, simple text. Text shall be written for language skill of about Grade 6 level reading comprehension. Use short sentences and avoid words that represent complex concepts.
Accessibility Exemptions: periodic table touch screen
Programming and outreach opportunities. Pull apart graphene: i.e. with scotch tape

More information to be determined once data is received. (expected by end of September).

B5 Materials have changed the way we live.Over time, the materials that we have developed and used to produce things around us have changed.

Accessibility considerations.
Physical Accessibility - Assure appropriate reach range for touchable objects. Assure 70% contrast. Allow close approach to artifacts and rock samples. Assure flip panels are designed to maximize accessibility.
Sensory Accessibility –
Intellectual Accessibility - Choose easily understandable icons and minimal, simple text. Text shall be written for language skill of about Grade 6 level reading comprehension. Use short sentences and avoid words that represent complex concepts.
Accessibility Exemptions:
Programming and outreach opportunities. Could have additional samples of different materials and develop a guessing game about when the materials were developed.

B5-1 Old product, new material.Visitors see an artifact display of irons and learn how new materials have different characteristics which change or improve their functionality.

B5-1Artifact group title: Old product, new material.

B5-1 Artifact group caption: The materials used to make irons has changed over time. New materials have brought different characteristics which change or improve their functionality.

B5-1 Artifacts:

B5-1-1

Iron

Canada

1860

Artifact no. 1987.0305

Artifact captions as arrows with labels (30 words):

B5-1-1-1 ACap1:(arrow pointing to body of iron) Ironis heavy and absorbs heat - easily getting out wrinkles.

B5-1-1-2 Acap2: (arrow pointing to handle): Very hot! Requires skillful and careful use.

B5-1-1-3 Acap3: (arrow pointing to different part of body): Metal loses heat quickly – irons had to be rotated.

B5-1-1-4 Acap4: (arrow pointing to rusty part of body): Rust – would stain fabric.

B5-1-2

Charcoal Iron

Joseph and Jesse Siddons Limited

West Bromwich, England

1870

Artifact no. 1992.0266

Artifact captions as arrows with labels (25 words):

B5-1-2-1 ACap1: (arrow pointing to body of iron)Red-hot charcoal quickly heats up its heavy, metal body.

B5-1-2-2 ACap2: (arrow pointing to opening for charcoal) Charcoal keeps it hot.

B5-1-2-3 ACap3: (arrow pointing to handle) Wood stays cool.

B5-1-2-4 ACap4: (arrow pointing to brass) Brass dissipates heat, protecting the hand.

B5-1-3

Electric Iron

Waverly Tool Co.

Sandusky, Ohio, United States

1941

Artifact no. 1996.0035

Artifact captions as arrows with labels (47 words):

B5-1-3-1 ACap1: (arrow pointing to body of iron)Chrome plated steel – luxurious!

B5-1-3-2 ACap2: (arrow pointing to soleplate)Steel heats up and cools down easily – allowing the user to control the temperature.

B5-1-3-3 ACap3:(arrow pointing to knob and handle) Plastic protects the hand from the heat

B5-1-3-4 ACap4:(arrow pointing to fancy handle) Plastic molded into fancy shape.

B5-1-3-5 ACap5: (arrow pointing to metal fins) Metal fins dissipates heat away from the hand towards the fabric.

B5-1-3-6 ACap6:(arrow pointing to metal fins) Asbestos and cotton insulate the wiring.

B5-1-4

“Silver Streak” Electric Iron

Corning Glass Works and Saunders Machine and Tool Corporation

Corning, New York, United States

1946

Artifact no. 1995.0796

Artifact Caption (19 words):

B5-1-4-1 ACap1:(arrow pointing to body) Pyrex borosilicate glass – response to metal shortages during the Second World War.

B5-1-4-2 ACap2: (Arrow pointing to body)Beautifully coloured.

B5-1-4-3 ACap3: (arrow pointing to body) Heavy and fragile – not practical.

B5-1-5

“Ultra-Steam Plus” Electric Iron

Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex Inc.

Mexico

1990

Artifact no. 2008.0106

Artifact Caption (35 words):

B5-1-5-1 ACap1(arrow pointing to soleplate): Non-stick, Steel allows temperature customized to fabric type.

B5-1-5-2 ACap2(arrow pointing to body): Plastic prevents heat loss.

B5-1-5-3 ACap3(arrow pointing to handle): Plastic protects the user’s hand.

B5-1-5-4 ACap4(arrow pointing to water gauge): Clear plastic - see the level of water.

B5-1-5-5 ACap5(arrow pointing to indicator light and green decorative buttons and knobs): coloured plastic – indicator light and decorations.