Rubber Band + Hair Dryer Experiment, Try 4

A homework assignment in Thermal Physics asked us to determine if a rubber band should get shorter or longer when you heat it. Suspecting the answer was that it got shorter, a few enterprising Physics students decided to try the experiment. This is the fourth and final attempt.

After watching the rubber band expand on the previous three attempts, we eventually realized that the expansion was independent of the heat. The bands were getting slightly permanently stretched and deformed just from the weight. However, if we let that effect run to completion, the bands became stable.

In this attempt, you can see the weight raise slightly as the rubber bands are heated. It drops back down a little bit for a moment when the hair dryer is accidentally moved away for a moment, then goes back up when the heat returns. In the very end you can see it return to its original position.

Category:

Science & Technology