How much will a Elastic band stretch after adding weights?

Prediction

I predict that the more weight added to the elastic band the more it will extend. The reason it extends is because it is elasticised. If I add too much weight it will reach its elastic limit. After that it will not extend and will become plastic. When I take the weights off I think the elastic band will relax to a size slightly bigger then it's original state. We did a similar experiment with springs instead of an elastic band.

The more weight added the longer the spring extended. I have also taken into account Hooke's law. Hooke's law simply states that the extension of a spring (Or other stretch object) is directly proportional to the force acting on it. This law is only true if the elastic limit of the object has not yet been reached.

Plan

First I will attach an elastic band to a clamp-stand and will suspend the elastic band over the end of a table.

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I will then add a 100g (1 Newton) weight to the elastic band. I will then measure the elastic band and record the size. I will then repeat this with a 200g (2 Newtons) weight. I will repeat the experiment for every 100g up to 1000g.(10 Newtons or 1 kilogram) I will then do the same but instead of adding weights I will take weights off.

Fair Test

To make sure that this is a fair test I will use the same elastic band for putting weights on as for taking the weights off.

I have to make sure that the elastic band doesn't reach it's elastic limit. If this happens I will have to repeat the experiment.

List of Apparatus

* A test tube

* A Bunsen Burner

* A pair of tongs

* Copper Carbonate

* Something that will not burn if hot Copper oxide is poured on it

* Scales

Diagram of Apparatus

Results

Adding weights

Weight

Length of elastic band

Extension

0g

11.5cm

0cm

100g

13cm

1.5cm

200g

15cm

3.5cm

300g

20cm

8.5cm

400g

23.5cm

11cm

500g

30cm

18cm

600g

36cm

25cm

700g

41cm

29.5cm

800g

46.5cm

35cm

900g

49cm

37.5cm

1000g

52cm

40.5cm

Taking weights off

Weight

Length of elastic band

Extension

1000g

52cm

40.5cm

900g

63cm

51.5cm

800g

63cm

51.5cm

700g

59cm

47.5cm

600g

58cm

46.5cm

500g

48cm

36.5cm

400g

30cm

18.5cm

300g

23cm

11.5cm

200g

15cm

3.5cm

100g

15cm

3.5cm

0g

13cm

1.5cm

The starting length is 11.5cm. Once all the weights have been put on, and then taken off the end size is 13 cm. That is an increase of 1.5cm.

Conclusion

My prediction was correct, the more weight I added the more the elastic band extended. And when I took the weights off the elastic band relaxed to a state slightly bigger then its original size. An increase of 1.5cm. Due to having foreknowledge of Hooke's law made it easy to roughly predict what the results were going to be.