Assessment

Have students list at least 4 real world examples, including both polymeric and non-polymeric, where expansion and contraction due to temperature changes are important. Have students explain how temperature changes affect each example and the importance of allowing for this change. (As a polymeric example, students may think of a simple children's toy - "Shrinky Dinks" - that consist of a sheets of decorated polystyrene plastic which when placed in a toaster oven, shrinks to a much smaller, but thicker, size)