Project Rubber Band

A rubber band car uses potential elastic energy from the rubber bands by turning it to kinetic energy. This kinetic energy is what makes the car move after which the rubber band swiftly returns to its original size and shape. When the band is wound around the axle, it is given the potential energy which is energy that is stored for later use.
When the rubber band is released the spinning axle turns the potential energy into kinetic energy. This therefore follows that the more the rubber band is wound, the more you have stored energy and the quicker and longer your rubber band will go.
Materials required
One interesting fact about the rubber band car is the ease of which some of the materials can be found at home. These include the following: * One piece of card board or foam board for making the car’s body * Straws * For the wheel axles find two wooden pieces that can fit inside the straws * The wheels can be made from bottle tops, caps from film canisters or old cd’s. * Rubber bands of different lengths and elasticity * 1 cup hooks of small sizes. * Glue or tape to stick the parts * A pair of scissors for cutting parts * a pen and a ruler

Construction Procedure 1. Take the card board and cut it into a 8 by 10 inch triangle so that you get what we will use as the car chassis. Then cut out a 2 by 2 inch area from one end of the card board which will be the rear end so that the rear axle can be accessed from the top of the car. 2. Cut 2 pieces of straws to 8 inches same as the width of the car chassis and use the glue or tape to stick them near the two ends of the car chassis. Cut out the centre of the straw that you have put in the rear side so that the 2 by 2 inch space still remains. Ensure that the straws are placed straight and parallel to each other so that the car can move straight. 3. Cut the two wooden pieces into 12 inch length so that they protrude from the straws once they are inserted inside them. Place each inside the straws and ensure that they move freely. You now have your axles. 4. Place one hook onto the rear axle so that it is tightly fit into the middle of the 2 by 2 inch area in the chassis. This will ensure that the rubber band is held in lace securely. 5. Attach your wheels to the axles by drilling out hole and make sure that they hold tightly so that they do not fall off as the car moves. 6. Select the largest and strongest rubber bands that will be used to power the movement of the car. Tape the one end of the rubber band to the chassis towards the front end and hook the other to the one at the rear axle. 7. The car is ready for use. Turn the rear axle several times so that the rubber band is wound around it and is tight. Place the car down on a flat surface and release it. Your car will start moving forward as the rubber band unwinds. 8. Its speed depends on how large the rubber band is, how elastic it can stretch and whether there is enough friction between the wheels and the road surface.