FLIR thermal infrared camera: Rubber Band hot/cold

A rubber band gets hot when you stretch it, and cools down when it contracts. The FLIR thermal IR camera makes this instantly visible. Actually, the rubber doesn't heat until the end, only when you stretch it 95%. Same with cooling. If you build a rubber-band heat engine, it won't work unless the bands are pre-stretched almost to their maximum.

"Thermal Eye" camera TSC by L3/Raytheon $7000 new, found cheap on eBay by searching for "thermal imaging". Also see http://amasci.com/unew.html for more cool stuff.

Note: Trolls & spammers blocked immediately. Zero tolerance.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• physics
• demonstrations
• demo
• flir
• thermal
• infrared
• camera
• amasci
• science
• rubber
• band

[bastian74]

Why is a contracting rubber band endothermic?

[wbeaty]

@bastian74 Hmm, I haven't seen a detailed explanation. So, if we stretch and immediately release the rubber, does it return to init temp, acting like a near-ideal spring? But if we stretch, then wait for cooling, *then* release, did we cause cooling and observe the rubber perform excess work during contraction? Just a slight violation of thermo 2nd law. :)

[DrakeMagnum]

that's a great demonstration. how much does one of those cameras cost?

[wbeaty]

@DrakeMagnum $7000 new, last time I checked. Must buy cheap by camping out on eBay, searching for just the right keywords, and bidding on every TSC Thermal Eye until you finally get one before other users bid it up past your price ceiling.

[coolaidkiller101]

@wbeaty IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET A THERMAL CAMERA CHEAPLY ,I MEAN AT THE PRICE OF A HD VISABLE CAMERA LIKE $150.OR A REALLY LOW QUALITY RESOLUTION CAMERA, MAYBE 240*320 THE CHEAPIST POSSIBLE PRICE.WHAT ACTUALLY COSTS THE MOST,LENS?

[wbeaty]

@coolaidkiller101 Very skilled at eBay might get one for $1000. Wait a few years, then find "FLIR Scout" used camera for under $1K. But those are too recent, so still no used cameras below $1000.

Silicon lens on my camera, way cheaper than Germanium military thermal lenses.

[mattdangerpaul]

You mean infrared vision, or are you referring to the negative image effect?

They don't build infrared vision into mobile phone cameras...

[tigercubgurlie]

rofl! you're silly! "hot! cold! hot! cold!"

[hboy007]

Wow cool, makes me want to build a pendulum heat pump with it! just build two clamps that grab the band exaclty at the points of reversal and pull the mass down with the "heat sink" clamp.

[TheUnknownGrower]

are you a fucking GROW RIPPER?????

[meterdatamanagement]

the prices will likely go down very soon but some people hope not!

[D3vin77]

I -3 u

[KiserSosei2U]

@DrakeMagnum Depends on the model. I can sell you the new Flir i3 for $1800 new.

[sandroac34]

great... thanks!