discuss how the project has helped to deepen your understanding/ broaden your awareness on selected subject discipline(s).
In the tensile testing on engineering materials portion, we learnt some formulas/concepts, such as Young's Modulus, tensile stress, tensile strain and percentage elongation. We also learn how to interpret results taken from a strain versus stress graph from a tensile test (See which is more ductile, stiff, brittle and so on), which helped us deepen our understanding of each material's mechanical properties and how the break surface links to the stress-strain graph.
In the virtual SEM portion, we learn how the electron microscope is used, its parts and its functions, the different viewing modes and when is is used for, and the procedure. After this simulation, we have became more aware in the importance of following procedures and safety precautions when carrying out the experiment, and it not only applies to materials science but other sciences too. If the filament is heated up too fast, the working distance is too near, or moisture is on the sample, the . If the filament is heated up too fast, it will blow and break prematurely; If the working distance is too near, it will destroy the sample; and if there is too much moisture on the sample, the water might reflect or bounce off electrons, making the results inaccurate.
In the Composite Material Processing, it has deepened our understanding of how composite materials are made, the different types of composites and its application in real life. We are also clear of the safety precautions before the experiment (Like wearing lab coat, googles and gloves), which we have to take note of in future experiments.
describe how the new learning is/ can be connected to what you learnt/ are going to learn
For tensile testing, we might be learning some of these formulas in Physics, and it is also connected to data analysis, which is looking at the graph and interpreting the results. We could also learn how to use different materials for different applications, by analysing and determining which material has the suitable properties for the application.
For virtual SEM, we can learn how to do other simulations in the future, and adjust the optimum settings, and learning how to go through different processes to find out more.
For composite materials processing, we can connect it to Materials Science that we are going to learn soon, where a material's properties can be mixed with another to form a new material. Also, that favourable properties of materials need to be considered for different applications.