Elastic Energy of Rubber Band on Cars - Research Paper Example

Rubber band cars Introduction Elastic energy is defined as the potential mechanical energy that is inside the configuration of a material or the physical components whenever work is done to distort the shape or volume. This type of energy is established whenever the objects are stretched or compressed. The theory of elasticity basically established a complicated system that was combined with the analytical understanding of solid bodies materials and mechanics. The equation for elastic potential in calculating the mechanical equilibrium positions (Stocker and Benenson, 2002). This energy is potential because it has to be converted to other forms of energy like kinetic. The potential energy equation is mathematically given as;’, where k is the constant of proportionality, and x is the compression. In this case, elasticity is reversible. The forces that are linked to the elastic component are responsible for the transfer of energy in the material, when the energy is transferred to the environment, the object would recover the initial shape. Different materials however have a limitation in the extent to which the distortion can be endured without altering the internal structure permanently (Stocker and Benenson, 2002). This means that the traits of some solid materials are the specification in terms of the strain of the elastic limit. After the elastic limit is exceeded, the elastic material no longer stores all the energy from the performed mechanical energy in the electrical energy form. Rubber bands are good examples of elastic materials. In order to understand the application of elastic energy, this paper explore the design of a rubber band car. Research A stretched rubber band has high amount of potential energy. When it is released, the stored energy is converted to motion or kinetic energy as the rubber band is snapped back to the initial shape. A rubber band car is one way of tapping the energy that is stored within the rubber bands. Potential energy involves that energy which is stored within an object. If a rubber band is stretched, it gives out some potential energy. Increasing stretch will increase the amount of potential energy produced. When a rubber band is releases, the stored potential energy would be released thus changing into motion. The potential energy produced by elastic materials such as the stretched rubber band is referred to as elastic potential. This is the amount energy that is stored within the elastic materials due to their ability to compress and stretch. This type of energy can be stored in bungee chords, rubber bands, springs, trampolines, and arrows that are drawn inside the bow. The quantity of energy that is stored in these devices is linked to the degree of stretch to the device. When the degree of stretch increases, the amount of stored energy in the rubber band would increase (Maxwell, 2009). Springs are other devices that have the ability of storing potential energy because of their ability in stretching and compressing. A force is used in compressing a string. Increasing the amount of compression will increase the amount of force that would be needed to compress the string further. For some springs, the quantity of force is considered to be directly proportional to the quantity of stretch or compression (x). In this case, the proportionality constant is referred to as the spring constant (k). The equation connecting the force and quantity of stretch or compression force is given as F=Kx. These springs follow Hooke’s Law. When a spring is compressed or stretched, there would be no elastic stored potential energy. This spring is considered being in equilibrium position (Veziroglu, 2009). In this case, equilibrium position is that position where a spring assumes some neutrality, when there is no force applied on it (Stocker and Benenson, 2002). In the form of potential energy, the position of equilibrium is referred to as the zero potential energy. One special equation is used to link the quantity of elastic potential energy and the degree of stretch and the spring constant. This equation is given by; PEspring=0.5 *k x2 The amount of elastic energy inside a material is considered being static. It can be compared to the amount of stored energy by inter-atomic distance between one nucleus and another. Thermal energy is considered being the random kinetic energy distribution in a material leading to the statistical material fluctuations regarding the configuration of its equilibrium. There are some interactions however, for some solids that may give out some thermal energy making the temperature of the material increase. In solids, thermal energy may be carried out by the inelastic waves that are referred to as phonons. The elastic waves that are large on the isolated scale produce some macroscopic vibrations that lack randomization and their oscillations are the repetitive exchanges between the potential elastic energy in a body and the motional kinetic energy (Lifshitz and Landau, 1986). The mechanical system components have the ability of storing potential energy whenever they are deformed and force is applied to the system. The energy would be transferred to a given object at any given time that the external force is displaced or deformed. The amount of energy that is transferred through work towards the object can be calculated as a vector dot product of a given force and the object’s displacement (Viegas, 2005). When force is applied to a given material or system, it would be distributed internally to the parts of the components. Some of the energy that is transferred could be stored in the form of the kinetic energy of the velocity acquired (Kenward, 1976). The shape deformation of the object component would lead to the storage of elastic energy (Stocker and Benenson, 2002). A rubber band is an example of a prototypical elastic material. The linear performance of a rubber band is parameterized by a spring constant. The amount of energy in a spring is derived using Hooke’s law. This requires assumptions like at any moment, the quantity of the force applied is equal to the quantity of the resulting force. Design and Experiment The study was set to build a rubber band car which would go far, and fast. Rubber band, was the main power source of the car, and the car has two wheels and two axles in the functional capacity. The material needed for the design were a rubber, scissors, masking tape, wooden skewer, 2 faucet washers, poster putty, 1 rubber band, pens, pencils, or markers, one wooden skewer about 1/8 inch thick, and a 5 x 6 inch piece involving some corrugated cardboard that are pieced so that the corrugated holes can be seen along the edge. Figure 1: A rubber band car design Building process Notching of the body. A notch was cut in the five-inch side of a cardboard. The notch was made to be 11/2 inches deep. The piece that was cut out was thrown away. Making the axle. The skewer was slid over a cardboard next to the edge outside. The axle sticks were made to be out from each of the sides of the body. When the skewer stops rotating, it was twisted until when the opening stretched. Modification on the axle The place where the skewer gets into the notch was identified. At the centre of this section, a small piece of tape was wrapped to create a rubber band catch. The tape was twisted by sticking up to ensure that the catch remains thick to hold a rubber band. Assembling of the wheels. A washer was held in the CD center hole. The CD together with the washer were slid on to the axle allowing a lot of room between the cardboard and CD. Poster putty was put on the washer side for the axle, washer, and CD to be joined tightly. The axle and the wheel need to rotate together. The second wheel was made in a similar manner. Attaching the rubber band One end of the rubber band was taped on the cardboard at an end opposite to the axle. Powering of the car The unattached rubber band end was wrapped over the catch. The axle was turned several times. The rubber band potential energy was given. When it is unwound, the potential energy would be transformed to form kinetic energy thus making the axle to spin. The more the rubber band is wound the more the availability of energy for the wheels of the car, and the faster and further the car would move. Testing During the racing time. The car was set on the floor with the side having the rubber band down. When the car is left to go, the wheels should turn freely. If they don’t, it is prudent to ensure that the catch doesn’t hit the cardboard, when the axle is spinning. It is also vital for one to check to ensure that the rubber band does not jam itself on the cardboard. It was found that when a rubber band is wrapped in a careful manner, the problem could be fixed, but more spaces can be created for the rubber band through making some notch slightly wide. Results The rubber band car that was designed was a prototype, which is an early model of a product. Prototype is useful engineers because it helps them understand the strength and weaknesses of a product and the manner in which it can be improved. It is similar to a case of an individual thinking about his car and trying to make it to function better. A car could also be redesigned for tougher and new challenges such making the vehicle function on thick carpet and sand. The Ideas of brainstorming, revising the design, testing and building a design are useful in fixing a car to perform better. Analysis and evaluation The designed car was powered using a rubber band, a different trend from the many cars that use gasoline. An average car could move for about 20 miles each gallon despite the expense involved in the purchase of gasoline, and the negative effects of gasoline to the environment. An alternative fuel that is not only affordable, but environment friendly is preferred. In the year 2006, the MIT vehicle design was developed by two students, posing challenge to together students around the world to design cars that do not use gasoline and could obtain over 500 miles in every gallon (Viegas, 2005). These students advanced the research further. They designed a car that was powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The fuel cell had the ability of converting hydrogen and oxygen to form electricity. Other students combined the solar power and the human power, whereas others used electricity in powering their designs (Stocker and Benenson, 2002). Biodiesel was also used as a way of powering the car designs. In addition, an environmental friendly fuel made from corn, grass, and soybeans was used in powering other designs. The developed design uses rubber bands, which are cheap, environment friendly and enable the designed car to move faster than the previous models. Conclusion The study was set to design an electric car. The prime objective of the study was to design a fast car that was powered by the rubber bands. All the objectives of the study were realized. The obtained design was similar to the projected theoretical design. Use of a rubber band car was found to have a number of advantages. The car would provide an environmentally friendly means of powering the vehicle. Rubber bands may not pollute the environment as the current gasoline engines do. Rubber bands are equally; cheap and affordable hence they can be used by anyone who cannot be afforded. The study showed that rubber bands have a high quantity of the stored energy. This model is a modification of the previous prototype model of a car. They previous designs of cars were powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. Other models in history combined the solar power and the human power, whereas others used electricity in powering the car designs. References Kenward, M., 1976. Potential energy: An analysis of world energy technology. New York. Wiley and sons. Lifshitz, M., and Landau, D., 1986. Theory of elasticity. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann. Maxwell,C., 2009. Peter pesic. Theory of Heat. Mineola, N.Y: Dover Publications. Stocker, H., and Benenson, W., 2002. Handbook of physics. Oxford: Oxford University press. Viegas, J., 2005. Kinetic and potential energy: Understanding changes within the physical systems. New York: McGraw Hill. Veziroglu, N., 2009. Renewable energy sources. London: Sage Publishers. Read More