Bullet-proof glass

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/bullet-proof-glass

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the energy absorption mechanism?Plastic deformation of polymer interlayers to dissipate kinetic energy
2. What is the key development era?Early 20th century for laminated glass, mid-to-late 20th century for ballistic resistance
3. What is bullet-proof glass and how does it stop bullets?Bullet-proof glass is made of many layers of glass and strong plastic. When a bullet hits, the plastic stretches and absorbs the bullet’s energy, stopping it before the glass breaks.
4. Why do bullet-proof windows have many layers of glass and plastic?The glass gives a hard outer shell that stops the bullet’s initial impact. The plastic layers then stretch and soak up the bullet’s energy, keeping the window from shattering.

Ballistic Resistance: The ability of a material to withstand the impact of projectiles fired from firearms.
Kinetic Energy Dissipation: The process by which the energy of motion in a moving object is converted into other forms of energy.
Annealed Glass: Glass that has been cooled slowly to reduce internal stresses, making it less brittle than regular glass.
Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB): A common polymer interlayer used in laminated glass for its adhesion and impact resistance properties.