Alpha science classroom： Rubber Band Heat Engine

Do the kids know why cars run? That's the engine at work, and an engine is an engine that converts heat or thermal energy into mechanical energy or motion. Today, the alpha science classroom teaches kids to DIY a Rubber Band Heat Engine. In this physical science experiment project, we will learn how to make a rubber band heat engine to help kids understand what it means to expand and contract in this fun kids science experiments activity .

Alpha Science Classroom: Rubber band heat engine, required materials

• Rubber bands of different thicknesses

• Scissors

• Heat lamp

• Ice cubes

• Coins

• Hammer and nails

• Pins

• Duct tape

• rulers

• Plastic spools in tape rolls (rolls with grooves work very well; these can be obtained from some rolls of electrical tape or PTFE tape).

Alpha Science Classroom： Rubber band heat engine steps to make

Step 1: Kids hammer down a nail about a foot above the desk or countertop near an electrical outlet (so you can plug in your heat lamp later). Check with an adult before drilling a hole in the wall! When drilling holes in walls, leave an inch or two of nails sticking out. Leave an inch or two of nails sticking out of the wall.

Step 2: Children take out the tape roll and hang it over the center of the nail so it can turn freely.

Step 3: Children use scissors to cut the rubber band so that you have a long strip. Use a thin piece of tape to stick the coin to the cut end of the rubber band.

Step 4: Children use a pusher to secure one end of the rubber band to one side of the wall of the tape roll without placing the weight on the wall.

Step 5: Children drape the other end of the rubber band with the weight on it over the tape roll and let it hang free.

Step 6: Children set the heat lamp to point at the rubber band. Do not turn on the light yet. Use the tape to mark the starting height of the weight (coin) on the wall.

Step 7: Children rub an ice cube along with the rubber band in the section between the tape roll and the large head. Wait about a minute and record your observations.

Step 8: Use the tape to mark the distance (also called displacement) of the coin from its original position on the wall. Use your ruler to measure and record the distance.

Step 9: Children set your heat lamp so that the bulb is about 3 inches away from your rubber band. Turn on your heat lamp. Wait about two minutes and record your observations.

Step 10: Children use tape to mark the displacement of the coin on the wall from its original position. Use your ruler to measure and record the distance.

Finally, children repeat this experiment with rubber bands of different thicknesses. Does the thickness of the rubber band affect how much it expands or contracts?

Alpha Science Classroom: Rubber Band Heat Machine, Science Principles

The work done by the children's heat machine in this children's physical science experiment in the alpha science classroom involves the movement of weight through the expansion and contraction of rubber bands.

When a rubber band is heated, heat energy from the surrounding environment enters the molecules of the band, causing them to vibrate. The more the molecules vibrate, the more they collide with neighboring molecules, causing tiny kinks and bends in each chain. This causes the rubber band to shrink.

When the rubber band is cooled by the ice, its chain-like molecular structure becomes stiffer, or rigid - meaning the molecules no longer vibrate and collide with each other. This prevents the rubber molecular chains from contracting and the "chains" are allowed to loosen, meaning that the molecular bonds become longer and the rubber band is stretched.

Alpha Science Classroom: Rubber Band Heat Engine, Science Principles

The work done by the children's heat machine in this children's physical science experiment in the alpha science classroom involves the movement of weight through the expansion and contraction of rubber bands.

When a rubber band is heated, heat energy from the surrounding environment enters the molecules of the band, causing them to vibrate. The more the molecules vibrate, the more they collide with neighboring molecules, causing tiny kinks and bends in each chain. This causes the rubber band to shrink.

When the rubber band is cooled by the ice, its chain-like molecular structure becomes stiffer, or rigid - meaning the molecules no longer vibrate and collide with each other. This prevents the rubber molecular chains from contracting and the "chains" are allowed to loosen, meaning that the molecular bonds become longer and the rubber band is stretched.

The children discovered that rubber bands expand (elongate) when rubbed on ice and contract (shorten) when heated by a lamp. This is the hidden mystery of this children's physical science experiment, which is the most common physical phenomenon in our life, thermal expansion, and contraction. Children discover similar phenomena through more kid's science experiments, find out different thermal expansion and contraction phenomena, become the smartest physical scientists, and invent more useful "perpetual motion machines".

alpha science toys are also designed for children, a variety of different items of children's physical science experiment kits, to help children to complete the exploration of science dreams, the achievement of children's future.