Objectives

Introduction

Here's What You'll Do

Helpful Exercises

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Did you know that the outside of the Space Shuttle is made of a composite material largely composed of clay? Human-made composites are composed of a vast array of materials and are used for a wide variety of purposes. You are an engineer working for No Limits Design, a company that designs and builds prototypes of new composite materials and products made from these new materials. An exciting, but demanding career awaits you with this firm.

Your first assignment is to think of something made out of a composite material that you'd like to learn more about. The following list may help you select a product:

The Space Shuttle Discover lifting off the launch pad.

aircraft components race cars artificial limbs rocket parts athletic shoes safety glass battery plates skis (clothing, skis, poles) bicycle frames Space Shuttle tiles bicycle helmets space station components bulletproof vests Stealth bomber casing around a computer steel-belted radial tires cutting tools surfboards fishing rods tennis racquets golf clubs vaulting poles guitar rowing equipment hockey equipment

Then go to the library or use a computer database service to find out how the composite was developed and how it is used. If you have trouble finding references, you might start by looking in the magazine Consumer Reports. Look for at least three magazine articles or other sources of information on your topic. As you work, keep a complete bibliography of all your sources.

After you have read your articles and completed any follow-up research to gather more information, write a report describing the development, manufacture, and use of your composite material. Your report should include an introduction, body, conclusion, and bibliography. In the introduction of your report, tell what your composite is made of and describe the use of the material that you will focus on. In the body of your paper, tell how the composite was developed and how it is made; also describe details of its use; finally evaluate the main advantages and disadvantages of this material, incorporating an evaluation of economic and environmental aspects of its manufacture and use. In your conclusion, predict future applications of this composite or the possible development of spin-off materials.

You may not violate copyright laws. Any images or other resources retrieved from the internet and used in your presentation must be accompanied by a reference telling where it was obtained.

Attach a complete bibliography to your report, using the following style:

For magazine articles:

Author. "Article Title." Magazine Name, volume, (date), pages.

For books:

Author.Title. Place of publication: Publisher, date, pages.

For Internet documents:

see Classroom Connect

To learn more about how to make the most of your communications on the Internet, I strongly suggest that you read, Internet Guidelines and Culture and The Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette.

Research is the process of going up alleys to see if they are blind.

Marston Bates,
American scientist