Engineer Activity Badge
Rubberbands & Engineering
By Barb Stephens
Rubberband Strength
One of the requirements for engineer is to make a catapult. This requires the use of a rubber band or two, or a piece of tire inner tube. The rubber band is "elastic" and it stretches, but then returns to it's original shape. Before using materials in building, engineers must know the characteristics. Does it expand or contract? Is it weak or strong? Does it burn or not?
You can try an experiment to learn more of the characteristics of rubber bands
and other elastic material. Get a collection of different sized rubber bands.
Measure them for length, width and thickness (if you can). Make a chart that
shows this information and mark each rubber band clearly so you know which is
which. (Using colored rubberbands is best.)
| Rubberband | Original | Stretched | Length | Width | Thickness | Length | Width | Thickness |
With each rubber band, attach one end to a cup hook that is screwed into a
board. Attach the other end to a known weight. How far down does each rubber
band stretch? Does its thickness change? Does its width change? Which rubberband
is the strongest? Which rubberband is the weakest? How can you tell?
Data supplied by Pack 114
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