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Rubber Band Elasticity and Temperature
Rubber Band Elasticity and Temperature
|
Setup Pictures | Data |
Graph | Results |
Discussion |
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Related Research |
Background Info:
Stephen Perry
include aerobic bands, bracelets, and projectiles. Close to 21 million
tons of
rubber were produced in 2005 (“History”). On average, most rubber bands are
made out of natural rubber, which performs better under extreme heat than
synthetic
rubber (Bartleby 2001).
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Review of Literature:
be said
that the higher the temperature the higher the entropy level and lower the
orderliness of the molecules that make up the rubber. Rubber bands in general
stretch
more in the presence of heat as Frye states, “rubber contracts when it gets colder. The
molecules in the rubber band
get closer together. This affects the elasticity…” This
Question:
Hypothesis:
is the independent
variable, and the length of the band is the dependent variable.
Knowing that
the rubber bands are made out of natural rubber, we think that they will
Materials:
1.
One natural Rubber Band
2.
Weights
3.
2 wire metals (which are bendable)
4.
White board marker
5.
One 1000mL beaker
6.
Thermometer
7.
Paper and pencil
8.
Calculator
9.
Water/Ice
Procedure:
drawn.
Next, observe the 1000ml beaker and convert the distance the rubber band
could
stretch from ml to cm. Then the experiment can begin. Begin by testing the
coldest temperatures. To do this, fill the beaker with ice cubes. Once the ice
has
melted, put the thermometer in the water to check its temperature (it should
be
approximately 3° C). Place the apparatus into the beaker once it has
reached the right
with boiling
water. Fill the beaker with boiling water until it reaches the marked line.
Place your apparatus back into the beaker and record how far it stretches. Keep
the
rubber band in as the water temperature decreases. Record how far the rubber
band
stretches every 3° C change, until it has reached room temperature.
Refill beaker with
plot the data from the three trials and observe how
the rubber band's elasticity changed
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Setup Pictures:
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Data:
Constants:
Rubber band Weight of the Weight of the Weight of the metal device
length weights Rubber band holding the
Rubber band
5.5inches 168grams .5grams 4.6grams
Temperature Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
3OC 16cm 16.25cm 15.5cm
Graph:
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Results:
Taking
into consideration the fact that we used the same band for repeated
trials, the
elasticity of the band may have been affected. Aside from this, our data
demonstrates that the rubber bands do, in fact, stretch more when submerged in
warmer water.
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Discussion:
The applications of
this study at first seem obscure. But, when viewed in broad
terms, it opens
questions to how changes in temperature affect specific materials.
Although the
snap of a rubber band is not usually a cause of worry, the collapse of an
operating bridge is. The experiment also points out the major weakness of a
rubber
band: increased entropy with increased temperature. The question now
becomes: how
do we build a better rubber band?
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Bibliography:
A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry, Volume 1, by Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, The
University of Wisconsin
Press, 2537 Daniels Street, Madison, Wisconsin
53704.
Frye, M. (2001, January 31). How does
temperature affect elasticity of a rubber band?
hCqiqBxcXoYJ:www.cec.com.my/faq.htm+rubber+band
+elasticity&hl=en&ct=clnk &cd=8&gl=us&client=firefox-a>.
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Related Research: