What is the science behind a rubber band car?

Once the rubber band is released, the polymer chains in the rubber band want to return to their natural, wrinkled state. This releases the rubber band’s potential energy, converting it into the kinetic energy that powers your car. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion; any moving object is using kinetic energy.

What makes a rubber band car faster?

You’ve given the rubber band potential (stored) energy. When it unwinds, this potential energy is transformed into kinetic (motion) energy, and the axle spins. The more you wind the rubber band, the more energy is available for your car’s wheels—and the farther and faster your car goes.

Is a stretched rubber band a fuel?

Gasoline-powered cars calculate their fuel economy in miles per gallon, or how many miles the car can travel on one gallon of fuel. Your car uses a stretched rubber band as the energy source instead of gasoline.

How does a mousetrap car work?

A mousetrap powered car is a vehicle that is powered by the energy of a wound-up mouse trap’s spring. Once the drive axle and mouse trap are released the string is pulled from the drive axle by the mouse trap and this causes the drive wheels to rotate.

What kind of energy is stored in the rubber band?

Elastic Potential Energy
Elastic Potential Energy A stretched rubber band has the potential to do work or change things. This form of energy is called elastic potential energy.

Why does the car stop where did the energy go?

An object in motion possesses kinetic energy and to bring the object to a stop this kinetic energy must be removed. A mechanical brake applies a friction force to convert the kinetic energy of the vehicle into thermal energy which then dissipates into the atmosphere.

How strong is a rubber band?

The rubber band has a mass of 1.09 grams. This puts the specific energy at 1651 J/kg for stretching and 6605 J/kg for twisting.

How fast do rubber bands fly?

High speed photography showed that the rubber band flies backwards throughout the flight and the trigger velocity was about the same for both types of rubber bands about 40 meters/sec.