Question:
How do you calculate the potential energy of an elastic band?
Bob
2009-03-15 02:39:08 UTC
how do you do it. Show the math and the formula. And the average potential energy of a normal elastic band
thank you!
Four answers:
rickson
2009-03-15 03:29:49 UTC
The rubber band only has potential energy if it is stretched, so you work out the potential energy by observing the way it is stretched and how much force it took to do it.



The following applies to springs, but it should be about right for an elastic band.



In the case of a spring of natural length l and modulus of elasticity λ under an extension of x, elastic potential energy can be calculated using the formula:



Potential energy E = (Modulus of elasticity) times (extension)^2 divided by (2 * natural length)



Modulus of Elasticity is Stress / Strain.



You would have to calibrate your elastic band by stretching it with a known force (hang a 1 Kg weight off it and see how much longer it gets) to get a figure for Modulus of Elasticity.



.To confirm the potential energy, you could use the extended elastic band to fire a projectile vertically upwards.

Something like a pencil or a satay stick could be weighed and then fired.

If you could estimate the height (by recruiting helpers to observe how high it goes) you could calculate the initial velocity and convert this into Kinetic Energy by using

KE=1/2 M V^2. This is approximately equal to the potential energy of the elastic band before it was used to fire the projectile.
anonymous
2009-03-15 03:14:29 UTC
i seriously dont know how 2 derive it...

the elastic band is like a spring...it has a mean postion and and some value of elasticity...like the value of a spring constant for a spring....



so maybe just like the formula for the P.E. of a spring= 1/2 kx^2

k= spring constant

x= displacement from mean position



similarly..for an elastic band...P.E.=1/2 mx^2

m= some constant for the band

x= displacement from the mean position...



Examples of everyday objects that have Elastic potential energy would be elastic bands, springs, bungee cords, car shocks etc
anonymous
2009-03-15 03:23:35 UTC
potential energy=mass*acceleration due to gravity*height

height=stretched length of the band

acceleration due tu gravity=acceleration while pulling the band
anonymous
2014-02-23 10:09:48 UTC
What about a rubber motor ?


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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