Name: Emilio
Status: student
Grade: 6-8
Location: IL
Country: USA
Date: N/A
Question:
I was wondering what laws or rules go with a rubber band. I have
already Hooke's Law and the second law of thermodynamics. Are the any more?
I was also wondering what causes a rubber band to break. What happens
inside the rubber band that makes it not able to be stretched as far?
Replies:
Emilio,
When you stretch the rubber band a little, you are extending the bonds
in the rubber. When you stretch a rubber band too far, you're actually
breaking the chemical bonds that hold the rubber molecules together.
As for your second question, I might start by reading a little bit of
chemistry and some mechanical properties texts. The mechanical
properties (elastic/plastic deformation, Young's modulus, etc.) can
help explain the stretching in greater detail. The chemistry can
explain how the material can act the way it does.
Here's one example:
http://books.google.com/books?id=eySQeeGniC0C&lpg=PP1&dq=rubber
You may find it a little dense reading, but if you visit a local
library you may find a more suitable text.
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