Some background in algebra, physics and materials is helpful for solving this problem.
College students enjoy the challenge.
Additionally, they learn about materials engineering. The teamwork skill objective is for students to learn to probe to improve their depth of understanding. In this problem we are going to use estimation and modeling to determine the smallest diameter steel wire that could to used to suspend a typical American automobile. Individually estimate the diameter of the smallest steel wire that would support a typical American automobile hanging by it. Report to the whole class on the group's answer and model.