The purpose of this tutorial is to introduce the undergraduate student to the mathematical theory and principles of basic strain analysis. It is therefore written for the undergraduate student who has completed at least a one semester course in college algebra, and who is enrolled in a class on structural geology .
In the following sections descriptive and mathematical aspects of the theory of strain are interwoven with computer animations written in HTML 4.0. However, the basic core of the tutorial is comprised of a series of interactive exercises that require the use of the accompanying program Visualizing Strain. It is hoped that this rather unique approach will make the subject matter more entertaining, and in the same breath leave the student with an intuitive understanding of the complexities and beauty of strain.