Paper Clip Experiment: Properties and Failure

This five-page guide from Edmonds Community College provides a laboratory activity introducing students to the properties of metals using a paper clip. In this activity, a paper clip will fail after being bent multiple times, demonstrating the concept of fatigue. Students will compare and observe the fatigue properties of different materials. This activity teaches students to identify the effects of processing and manufacturing variations on materials properties. This activity is designed for middle school through lower division college classrooms. This guide includes the following sections: Module Objectives, MatEd Core Competencies Addressed, Instructor Background, Module Procedure, and Evaluation Questions.