Polymers in the Field and Track

Mary E. Harris
John Burroughs School, St. Louis, MO 63124
J. Chem. Educ., 2008, 85 (10), p 1323
DOI: 10.1021/ed085p1323
Publication Date (Web): October 1, 2008

Abstract

About a year ago, trucks delivered ton after ton of polymers to my school. No, our chemical order had not gone awry. Instead, the materials were part of a large construction project on campus—the athletic field. The old, grass athletic field was going to be replaced with artificial turf; the track that surrounded it was being replaced as well as enlarged from six to eight lanes. As a teacher I find that a construction project like this can be an excellent opportunity to bring practical chemistry into the classroom. There are very few building or repair projects that do not have at least one chemical connection; often there are several. For instance, this article about the replacement of our school’s track and field is a perfect way to work polymers into the curriculum at any time, and this year it is a handy connection to the 2008 National Chemistry Week theme of Chemistry and Sports. You can introduce many polymer-related topics with a connection to sports, such as polymers used in the manufacture of golf balls, tennis balls, racquet strings, helmets, and shoes to name just a few.

Keywords:

High School / Introductory Chemistry

Keywords:

Polymer Chemistry

Keywords:

National Chemistry Week

Keywords:

Materials Science
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History

  • Received: August 03, 2009

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