Trixie Le

2
nd
Period
Mr. Sarringhouse
9/16/14
Investigating the Flight of an Elastic Band Lab

Problem:
To determine if stretching the rubber band to different lengths would change the displacement of
the rubber band after its projectile and launch.

Background:
In order for a rubber band to be launched and have a flight of a certain distance, the factors that
help determine this are potential energy, energy that is stored in an object due to its position, and
kinetic energy, energy in motion. One prime example of this would the old snakes in a can.
The snakes are compressed inside the can, which is the potential energy, and when it is released
and opened, it flies out, which is due to its potential energy turned to kinetic energy. In the
mechanical system of the rubber band, stretching the rubber band creates a sort of potential
energy that turns into kinetic energy in its projectile.

Hypothesis:
If the length the rubber band is stretched affects the displacement of the rubber band after
projectile, then the distance will change in correspondence to the length that the rubber band is
pulled on, because potential energy is converted into kinetic energy in the rubber bands
projectile.

Variables:
Controlled variables
Use the exact same rubber bands
Environment
o Temperature
Ruler for measurement
Height of flight
Gravity
Angle the rubber band was launched
Independent variables
The rubber band was stretched before launching
Dependent variable
Projectile and distance of rubber band flight
Potential and kinetic energy of the rubber band

Materials:
A meter stick
table
Protractor
One rubber band

Procedures:
Flight of the Rubber band (refer to figure 1)
1. Arrange the two perpendicular meter sticks so that the height of the launch off the ground
will remain the same for each trial.
2. Take the rubber band and place the top of it on the Meter Stick A and pull it back at a
certain length at a 45 degree angle to the left but leveled to the ground and measure it
with a protractor.
3. Release the rubber band and make sure there are no obstructions in the way.
4. Take the trundle wheel and measure the displacement of the rubber band from its initial
point of Meter Stick B to the place it landed.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 with pulling the rubber band back 10 centimeters, 15 centimeters, and
20 centimeters.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 and do five trials for the rubber band that is pulled back 10 centimeters,
5 centimeters, and 20 centimeters


















(


Data:
Raw Data
Stretch
Distance
Flight of the Rubber Band (m)
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5
10 cm 1.5 0.05
1.6 0.05 1.6 0.05 1.4 0.05
1.5 0.05
15 cm
3.3 0.05 4.6 0.05 3.5 0.05 4.2 0.05 3.6 0.05
20 cm
6.4 0.05 5.9 0.05 6.2 0.05 6.3 0.05 6.1 0.05
Meter Stick A
Rubber band
Meter Stick B
Figure 1
Distance of flight

Calculations

Finding average displacement of stretch distance 10 cm.
1.5m + 1.6m + 1.6m +1.4m + 1.5m = 7.6 m
7.6 m/5 = 1.52 m
1.6m 1.4cm = 0.2m/2 = 0.1 cm
1.52 m 0.1 m
The displacement was bearing 45 degrees north east.

Finding average displacement for stretch distance of 15 cm
3.3m +4.6m + 3.5m + 4.2m +3.6m = 19.2 m
19.2m/ 5 = 3.84 m
4.6m - 3.3m = 1.3m
1.3m/2 = 0.65 m
3.84 m 0.65m
The displacement was bearing 45 degrees north east.

Finding average displacement for stretch distance 20 cm
6.4m + 5.9m + 6.2m + 6.3m + 6.1 = 30.9m
30.9 m/5 = 6.18m
6.4m 5.9m = 0.5 cm
0.5 cm/ 2 = 0.25 cm
6.18 cm 0.25 cm
The displacement was bearing 45 degrees north east.


Processed Data

Stretch Distance
(cm)
Flight of Rubber Band Averages (m)
10 cm 1.52 m 0.1 m
15 cm 3.84 m 0.65m
20 cm 6.18 cm 0.25 cm













Conclusion:
This is experiment was a success overall. This experiment was a success because a
correlation was found between the length a rubber band is stretched and its displacement after
launching. As the rubber band is stretched, more force is exerted onto the rubber band and the
elastic potential energy is increased. Once that potential energy is increased, it converts into
kinetic energy when the rubber band is launched. Therefore, rubber bands with higher elastic
potential energy, have higher kinetic energy, and go a farther distance. The further the rubber
band was stressed, the further it traveled, as seen on the graph.
Furthermore, the correlation between the length the rubber band was stretched and its
displacement was proven through the following procedures. In order to make sure each rubber
band was launched at the same height, a meter stick was utilized. Then, the rubber band was
pulled back by the end of another meter stick at a 45 degree angle to the left, still parallel to the
ground. In order to measure the distances the rubber band stretched, another meter stick was
utilized and it was perpendicular to the first meter stick. These measures were taken so that the
variables would remain constant and to obtain the most precise and accurate measurements
The distances it stretched were 10 centimeters, 15 centimeters, and 20 centimeters. Five trials
were done for each length the rubber band stretched and the averages were calculated. From the
five trials, the 10 centimeters stretched rubber band traveled 1.52 m in average, the 15
centimeters stretched rubber band traveled in average 3.84 m, the 20 centimeters pulled back
rubber band traveled a distance of 6.18 m in average. Similarly, the uncertainties were accounted
for with precision and accuracy for each measurement of the flights. All of these projectiles were
in the direction of bore 45 degrees northeast. As the rubber band stretched further, so did the
magnitude of its displacement.
Even though many steps were taken to insure the most precision and accuracy possible,
this lab could be improved in numerous ways. A few areas of weakness that needs to be
addressed. First of all, using the ruler as a way of having consistent measurements of stretching
the rubber band by pulling it back could have been an issue. This is because sometimes when a
person pulls back on a rubber band, they may not be able to pull it back to the exact
measurement it needs to be. In order to rectify or improve on this is to have one single person do
it rather than multiple different people to have less random error bars. However, there is always
the chance consistently error bars when people are used. Furthermore, the rulers were may have
not been exactly perpendicular. This is possible because there was no sturdy surface to place the
ruler on and there could have been a slight angle on the ruler. This could be improved by having
a sturdy surface to put the rulers on next time. Another variable that was not accounted for was
air resistance and the wind. Even though this was done in classroom, the door was open and the
wind was blowing. That could have easily affected the displacement of the rubber band. In order
to fix this type of problem, the doors should be sealed next time to ensure of little air resistance.
Lastly, a larger range of distances the rubber band being stretched would have been useful to
seeing the further correlation between the rubber band stretch and its displacement.