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Range of a flicked rubber band

Background information:

A stretched rubber band has elastic potential energy and when it is released, the elastic potential energy transfers to kinetic energy. Therefore the rubber band will be projected.

Aim:

A rubber band is flicked by stretching it between 2 fingers and then releasing the rubber band to project it, e.g. across a room. Investigate one factor that affects the range of flicked rubber band.

Variable:

Independent variable: the extension of the rubber band.
Dependent variable: the range of flicked rubber band.
Controlled variable: the length of the rubber band, the elasticity of the rubber band, the height of the rubber band above the ground, the angle between the projected angle and horizontal level, the projection has the same direction.

Equipment:

A rubber band, a ruler, a tape meter

Method:

Two people are needed for this experiment, one person responsible for measure the length of the extension and the range of flicked rubber band and the other responsible for projecting the rubber band. The length of the rubber band should be measured first. Then one person extents the rubber band and the other one measures the extension. A line should be drawn on the ground and a tape meter is placed perpendicular to the line. The direction of the projection should parallel to the tape meter. This experiment should be done in the same place, e.g. physics lab. The extension can be changed several times and find the different range.

Extension of rubber band (cm)
Range of flicked rubber band (m)


Safety:

It is best if people can wear a protect glass when they do this experiment. Sometimes, the rubber band not project forwards, but backwards. So you need to protect your eyes from the rubber band...