Unit 2: Mashing it up: physical models of deformation and strain

Unit 2 Learning Outcomes

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Students use stretchy fabric to explore physical models of strain and gain a better intuition for strain ellipses and GPS velocities.

Provenance: Vince Cronin (Baylor University)
Reuse: This item is offered under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ You may reuse this item for non-commercial purposes as long as you provide attribution and offer any derivative works under a similar license.

• Students will be able to use physical models to illustrate different types of deformation and strain.
• Students will be able to mathematically calculate 1-D extension.
• Students will be able to correctly analyze and depict how a triangle of GPS stations and inscribed circle move or deform during translation, rotation, dilation, contraction, or distortion.
  
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  Supports Module Goal 1 and Earth Science Big Ideas ESBI-4: Earth is continuously changing. (links open in new windows)

Unit 2 Teaching Objectives

• Cognitive: Facilitate students' ability to make calculations and depictions related to extension, deformation, and strain.
• Behavioral: Provide an opportunity for students to connect physical models to principles of deformation and strain.

This module was designed for structural geology courses but may also be used successfully in geophysics, tectonics, or geohazards courses or possibly even a physics or engineering course seeking practical applications. It can be done at almost any point during the term. The module assumes that students have had a basic physical geology introduction to plate tectonics, faults, and earthquakes. Unit 2 gives students an opportunity to develop an intuitive, as well as mathematical, understanding of deformation and strain. Unit 2 (particularly the extended version) could be done as a successful lab activity without any other part of this module. Although later units could be done without Unit 2, some other introduction to the terms extension, translation, rotation, etc. would be necessary. As an alternative to a single lab exercise, it is also possible to do one or two physical model activities included over a series of class periods as a break from regular class lecture or lab. We strongly suggest doing at least the Basic version of the physical models exercise prior to Units 3–6. The opportunity to interact physically with the concepts does help a wide range of different learners.

Also included in Unit 2 materials are a range of supporting mathematical materials that can be used to build student skills and knowledge of vectors, matrices, and strain analysis algorithms.

Basic version physical models:

The basic version of the unit has the students using just rubber bands and stretchy fabric to practice making measurements and descriptions of different types of extension and deformation. This provides an efficient way for students to learn about the mathematical and structural geology concepts that underpin the GPS station "triangles" in inscribed strain ellipse. They practice identifying how rotation, translation, extension, compression, etc. affect GPS velocity vectors. We have included a reading about strain and a few PowerPoint slides about extension that could be given before or after the physical models exercise. Often it works well to have the students explore the physical models first. The reading may not be necessary in courses with a text or lectures that cover strain in depth.

• Unit 2 Introduction to Basic Physical Models of Deformation (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 6MB Dec5 16)
  
  
  
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• Unit 2 Basic physical models instructor notes (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 4.5MB Oct2 23)
• Unit 2 Introduction to Strain Student Reading (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 4.2MB Oct2 23)
  Unit 2 Introduction to Strain Student Reading PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 1.1MB Oct2 23)
• Unit 2 Basic physical models exercise for students (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 4.3MB Oct2 23)
  Unit 2 Basic physical models exercise for students PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 420kB Oct2 23)
• Unit 2 Basic physical models exercise for students - answer key -- private instructor-only file
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  Unit 2 Basic physical models exercise for students - answer key

  
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• GPS triangle and strain ellipse images (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 1.7MB Sep23 15)
  • Simple diagrams of the different components of strain

Extended version physical models:

Physical models can be tremendously helpful for students to gain a fuller intuitive understanding of deformation. In this extended exercise, students explore strain and deformation in a variety of media and more broadly focused than just the concepts to support GPS and infinitesimal strain. Instructors could choose to: (1) add one or two additional models to the Basic version of the exercise, (2) have a full lab period devoted to exploring all the different models in both the Basic and Extended versions, or (3) weave one or two models at a time into the course over days or weeks so students have a chance to return to and review different concepts. The extended version also includes a model using bungee cords that could be used instead of the rubber bands in the Basic version.

• Unit 2 Extended physical models exercise instructor notes (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 4.5MB Oct2 23)
• Unit 2 Extended physical models exercise for students (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 1.7MB Oct2 23)
  Unit 2 Extended physical models exercise for students PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 381kB Oct2 23)

Supporting math materials:

These math materials are not directly related to the physical models activities. They are designed for instructors interested in addressing the quantitative analysis component of GPS and infinitesimal strain more thoroughly. This is particularly useful for instructors who want the "GPS Strain Calculator" (introduced in Unit 4) to be less of a black box. In order for students to understand the underlying math, they need to know about vectors, matrices, and strain analysis. It is generally good to start introducing this well before getting to Unit 4. For instance, a short lecture on vectors and/or matrices could be given on the same day as the Basic Physical Models exercise. The Infinitesimal Strain Analysis reading takes some time to digest. If it is going to be assigned as a reading, giving it out some time in advance of Unit 4 would be best. It may also be helpful background reading for instructors who want to brush up on their understanding of infinitesimal strain.

• Vector reading (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 4.2MB Dec6 16)
• Vector worksheet for students (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 201kB Dec6 16)
• Matrix and dot product reading (Microsoft Word 484kB Dec7 16)
• Matrix and dot product worksheet for students (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 251kB Dec6 16)
• Orthogonal coordinate transfer reading (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 633kB Dec7 16)
• Infinitesimal Strain Analysis in 1, 2, and 3-D reading (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 1.1MB Dec6 16)

• This unit may be split in half and combined with Units 1 and 3 for instructors teaching in 75-minute blocks.
• These activities may be used as a sort of think-pair-share activity where students complete key steps and then discuss as a class. Discussion points could include (1) after steps 1–5 of the rubber band model, (2) after step 6 of the rubber band model, (3) after the first t-shirt model, (4) after the last t-shirt model (general deformation).
• Instructors may want to end the class by having students interpret deformation from displacements, a skill they will use in Unit 4.

Observation of student activity and conversations, individual questioning, and group discussion are excellent ways to conduct formative assessment as the students complete this exercise.

Summative Assessment:

The student exercise is the summative assessment for this unit. Most of the questions have definite right or wrong answers. To receive full credit, students must show their work, where appropriate. Where an open-ended answer is required, students are assessed based on a simple 2-point system.
2 points = correct answer with thorough supporting evidence and/or complete description
1 point = answer not completely correct or lacking thorough supporting evidence or description
0 points = incorrect answer

• More ideas about fun physical models to try can be found at Vince Cronin's Physical Models webpage
• Video on how to make Physical model of strain ellipses in stretching and shortening
  
  

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  Simple physical model of strain ellipse and GPS stations in an extensional setting.

  Provenance: Vince Cronin (Baylor University)
  Reuse: This item is offered under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ You may reuse this item for non-commercial purposes as long as you provide attribution and offer any derivative works under a similar license.