Explaining the Stress-Strain Curve with a Paperclip

Last week I said I was going to check out what else the Mat Sci Guy had posted, and I found the above video explaining the stress-strain curve 'with a paperclip'.

Again, be warned, his narration is less than exciting, and the level of science can be a little high for at least my students.

But the explanation of how a paperclip can demonstrate the stress-strain curve is really good. He breaks down the elastic and plastic deformation regions of the curve and explains how those changes are different on an atomic level using two-dimensional diagrams while showing that on a macroscopic level with an extra-, extra-large paperclip.

I appreciate him providing the explanation on the macroscopic, symbolic, and particulate levels, something we've seen within the AP chemistry as a recent push.

Oh, and there are fewer corny jokes in this week's video than in last week's. Other than the 'what is a paperclip used for' schtick at the beginning, it's a pretty straight forward video.