The Power of Graphene

Student Worksheet:
Surface Area Challenge

 Research Phase
Read the materials provided to you by your teacher. If you have access to the internet, also explore resources at www.trynano.org to learn more about nanotechnology and graphene.

 Hypothesis
As a team, decide whether you think graphene (in ordinary pencil "lead") would be an electrical conductor or an insulator.  Write a supporting paragraph for your hypothesis on the other side of this paper.

 Test
Now, test your hypothesis!  Set up a simple circuit using connectors, an LED bulb, a battery, and other materials provided by your teacher. You'll create a working circuit first -- see if you can light the bulb!  Then, adjust your circuit so that the current must flow through a paper that you have rubbed lots of pencil onto.  (Do NOT attach the connectors to pencil lead that is still in a pencil.)  If you like, you can test other items provided by your teacher to see if they are conductors or insulators.

 Observation and Results
Observe and discuss what happened -- if anything -- and compare the results with your team's hypothesis.   

 Application Development
Based on the result of your experiment, as a team brainstorm on how graphene might be used to revolutionize a product.  Consider how lightweight and flexible the material is and prepare a brief presentation to your class about how graphene might either improve a product or allow the product to be made smaller.

 Presentation and Reflection Phase
Present your original hypothesis and experiment observations to the class along with your team's product application.  Listen to the presentations of the other teams and then complete the reflection sheet.

  The Power of Graphene

Student Worksheet:

 Reflection 
Complete the reflection questions below:

1. How accurate was your hypothesis compared to what happened? 

2. What surprised you about what you saw?  

3.  What new application for graphene that was presented by a team in your classroom was the most interesting to you?  Why?

4. Do you think that engineers have to keep track of what is happening in research in order to improve on existing products or methods?  

5. When a product is improved based on new research or materials, who do you think should be credited or compensated for the enhanced product?  

6. Did you think that working as a team made this project easier or harder?  Why?