To experience the three types of material stress related to rocks — tensional, compressional and shear — students break bars of soap using only their hands. They apply force created by the muscles in their own hands to put pressure on the soap, a model for the larger scale, real-world phenomena that forms, shapes and moves the rocks of our planet. They also learn the real-life implications of understanding stress in rocks, both for predicting natural hazards and building safe structures.

1.050 is a sophomore-level engineering mechanics course, commonly labelled “Statics and Strength of Materials” or “Solid Mechanics I.” This course introduces students to the fundamental principles and methods of structural mechanics. Topics covered include: static equilibrium, force resultants, support conditions, analysis of determinate planar structures (beams, trusses, frames), stresses and strains in structural elements, states of stress (shear, bending, torsion), statically indeterminate systems, displacements and deformations, introduction to matrix methods, elastic stability, and approximate methods. Design exercises are used to encourage creative student initiative and systems thinking.

Students learn about the variety of materials used by engineers in the design and construction of modern bridges. They also find out about the material properties important to bridge construction and consider the advantages and disadvantages of steel and concrete as common bridge-building materials to handle compressive and tensile forces.

Explore the benefits of a lightweight, strong structure and build within parameters to meet a challenge.

Students explore the physical and psychological effect of stress and tension on human beings. Concepts of stress and stress management are introduced. Students discover how perception serves to fuel a huge industry dedicated to minimizing risk and relieving stress. Students complete a writing activity focused on developing critical thinking skills. Note: The literacy activities for the Mechanics unit are based on physical themes that have broad application to our experience in the world concepts of rhythm, balance, spin, gravity, levity, inertia, momentum, friction, stress and tension.

The resource is in the form of a powerpoint presentation which will be helpful to the learners in understanding the concept better.

Are you stressed at work or at home? How do you manage it? What do you do to lessen your stress?
Check out LAPUx's Stress Management course to learn how you can minimize your stress.
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How do you manage your stress at work? How do you help your coworkers in stressful situations? Learn more in this module of Stress Management.

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Openly licensed syllabus assigns low-cost textbook (The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal, ISBN: 9781101982938)

Course description:
Course Description: The course is designed for students interested in a comprehensive approach to the management of stress. The class will examine the historical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, psychological, and physiological foundations of the stress concept. This broad understanding of stress will be the basis for the study
of the role that stress plays in health and disease. Students will explore a wide variety of stress management/relaxation techniques. The course will include lectures, critical thinking exercises, class discussions, workbook activities, quizzes, exams, and practical applications of various stress management techniques.

This can be used as an assignment for students in a Stress Management in Psychology class or a similar discipline/subject. The assignment has students discuss their stressor in the context of a primary and/or secondary stress appraisal process.

Students will dig deep into the physical stress response as a form of motivation for action. They will read an article, watch a video, then synthesize their ideas into a thinking protocol called "part, purpose, complexity" 

Students are introduced to the concepts of stress and strain with examples that illustrate the characteristics and importance of these forces in our everyday lives. They explore the factors that affect stress, why engineers need to know about it, and the ways engineers describe the strength of materials. In an associated literacy activity, while learning about the stages of group formation, group dynamics and team member roles, students discover how collective action can alleviate personal feelings of stress and tension.

The relationship between the stress and strain that a particular material displays is known as that particular material's stress–strain curve. It is unique for each material and is found by recording the amount of deformation (strain) at distinct intervals of tensile or compressive loading (stress). These curves reveal many of the properties of a material (including data to establish the Modulus of Elasticity