Making Rubber Bands

Making Rubber Bands

Some "hands in" science for kids

Procedure is below

What you need:

Safety Concerns:

The main concern is to make sure that neither the vinegar nor the Pliatex splash into your eyes. Wearing safety glasses is a good way to be safe.

Procedure:

Pour some vinegar into a paper cup
Pour some pliatex into a different paper cup.
Dip your finger into the vinegar up to the first joint.
After you take your finger out, make sure you let the vinegar drip off so you don't have too much on your finger.
Before the vinegar dries completely dip the same finger into the pliatex molding rubber.
Again let the excess (mold rubber this time) drip off your finger.
Now put the pliatex coated finger back into the vinegar - watch what happens.
After your finger has been in the vinegar for about 4 seconds you can take it out, letting the excess vinegar drip off.
Use a sharpened pencil to poke a hole in the top of the latex on your finger. (Kids should let their parents do this).
Roll the latex down your finger towards your hand
Slide your newly made rubber band off your finger.
It will be a rubber band right away, but it will get better if you let it sit for a while. Make a few more while you wait and then think of ways you can test the rubber bands you make with those you can buy.

Alternatives

To make bigger rubber bands use the bottom of a plastic bottle instead of your finger.
Try to make a rubber ball by mixing 1 tablespoon each of pliatex and vinegar. Once you have stirred them together in a paper cup for a few minutes you can take out the rubber and try to shape it into a ball.

Links

Here's one experiment you could try with your rubber bands versus those you buy.

Using rubber bands to teach how to make scientific observations

"Musical" Instruments made with rubber bands - parents have to love this one!

Shooting rubber bands - yes! There's even a guide on the internet about how to shoot rubber bands.