Liquid Crystals as Topic of School Projects for Physics Lessons in Terms of New Educational Standards

Abstract
Most students have heard of liquid crystals, but never directly worked with them. At the same time, it is quite affordable and interesting object for research that addresses not only the important milestones in the development of science and technology, but also shows different aspects of the phenomenon of self-assembly and self-organization, the issues of chemical thermodynamics, processes of preparation of nanostructured materials, many of today's «smart» devices. Phenomena of photoalignment and photoanisotropy have prospective application in the construction and operation of liquid crystal devices. The aim of this work is to implement into methodology of learning process of schoolchildren such steps as researching, obtaining results in nano environment, and in particular working with liquid crystals.

Keywords: liquid crystals, photoalignment, anisotropy, dichroism, polymers, dyes, birefringence