View Single Post
  #15   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 10-04-2014, 22:29
menns menns is offline
Registered User
AKA: Michel Enns
FRC #1310 (Runnymede Robotics)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: May 2009
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 10
menns has a spectacular aura aboutmenns has a spectacular aura about
Re: Out stretching surgical tubing.

The curious thing we discovered about stretching surgical tubing is that the restoring force decrease by about 10% for about 40 seconds to a minute after it's stretched. We get the most catapulting force if we stretch it and release it immediately. We suspect this was throwing off our two ball autonomous.

I'm guessing this a thermal effect. Rubber produces heat when stretched. It then cools to room temperature but rubber expands when it cools so less restoring force.