Smart materials: shape memory alloys and shape memory polymers

Shape memory alloys (SMA) and shape memory polymers (SMP) remember their original shape, even after being significantly deformed, returning to their original shape in response to a stimulus. This resource explores the technology behind SMA's and SMP's, the properties that they bring to engineered products and...

The Oxidation of Hydrogen

In this classic experiment, from the Royal Society of Chemistry, students vary the proportion of hydrogen and oxygen and then set light to the mixture. By comparing the loudness of the pop, students can conclude which reaction was most powerful. The resource is set out as teachers' notes followed by the students'...

Physical Health: Practicals

Three practicals produced by the Institute of Physics (IOP) that help students to understand some of the physics used in medical analysis. In addition to the guidance included for specific activities, please refer to the generic health and safety information before commencing any practical activity. This resource...

Malaria Challenge

Produced by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, this multimedia resource explores the five major stages of the malaria lifecycle, highlighting the role of the Plasmodium parasite at each stage. The resource predominantly focuses on Plasmodium falciparum but does also make reference to other Plasmodium species...

Mission: Starlight

This resource, from the Royal Society of Chemistry,  is about protecting astronauts from the effects of harmful UV light.

Students can experiment with different materials to discover which blocks UV light the best and can...

Space Suit Science

This teaching resource is presented in four stages:

Stage One - Finding out about the problem. In stage one pupils find out more about spacesuits, how they work and why people need them to survive. They also find out more about the challenge to test a series of materials to...

Technical textiles: composites

This resource provides slides, discussion activities and experiments to help increase student understanding of composites. The composites it focuses on are glass reinforced plastic, carbon fibre, concrete, wood and textile laminates.

Technical textiles: moisture management materials

This resources explores how moisture management technology is used to develop engineered products . It introduces key words such as breathability, wicking, microfibres and provides examples of products and tradenames that make use of this technical textile technology.

Technical textiles: Nomex

Nomex is a high performance fibre engineered to be able to perform in extreme conditions. This resource explores why designers might choose to use it,  some examples of products that are made from Nomex, and suggests ways of using Nomex in the classroom.

Technical textiles: Kevlar

This resource supports student understanding of the properties and uses of Kevlar. It explores why designers might choose to use it,  some examples of products that are made from Kevlar, and suggests ways of using Kevlar in the classroom.