VYPT 2014: Resources for Topics

1. Conductivity of pencil lines: The lines, drawn by so-called lead pencils, conduct electricity. Investigate the factors that determine the resistance of
the line.
What is being
investigated?

How can it be
measured?

What variables might

affect it?

What should be How might these be

controlled?
measured?

Resistance

1.

l
A

2.

Use a
combination
of voltmeter,
ammeter, &
battery; or
Use a
multimeter
(probably the
better option?)

length
material (2B, 4B);
note: is 2B pencil
manufactured by
Company A the same as
that manufactured by
Company B ?

thickness (consider
both depth & width of
pencil line)

connection of
multimeter probe to
paper (e.g is end of probe

paper used

humidity

temperature

multimet

user
(performing
measurement)

length and width See column 2

of pencil line can be
measured by ruler

can the depth of

pencil line (i.e no. of
layers ruled one on
top of each other) be
determined by
measuring the mass of
the paper, or mass of
pencil?

er
-

What equipment
might be
needed?

Experi
mental
Setup

Safety
Issues

Investigating the electrical conductivity of pencil lines written on a sheet. EngD thesis, Ted Ankara College Foundation High School.
http://tedprints.tedankara.k12.tr/23/
A Study of a Graphite Line's Electrical Conductivity, http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Current/Projects/J1304.pdf
Demo 8: Pencil Lead Conducts Electricity, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbNdqIDv6a4

2. Bouncing ball: If you hold a Ping-Pong ball above the ground and release it, it bounces. The
nature of the collision changes if the ball contains liquid. Investigate how the nature of the collision
depends on the amount of liquid inside the ball and other relevant parameters.
Background reading:

Robert Klaus, Taylor Killian & Tadd Truscott. Sphere Rebound-Suppression from Sloshing
(APS 2010 Conf. poster), http://www.taddtruscott.com/APS2010/Poster_V4.pdf

Tadd Truscott. Effect of sloshing on partially filled ball (vimeo, 2011),

http://vimeo.com/29207632

Wikipedia: Coefficient of restitution, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coefficient_of_restitution

Academic Journals:

P. G. Young. An analytical model to predict the response of fluid-filled shells to impacta

model for blunt head impacts. J. Sound Vibration 5, 1107-1126 (2003),

Nuri Akkas. Dynamic analysis of a fluid-filled spherical sandwich shellA model of the
human head. J. Biomechanics 8, 5, 275284 (1975)

W. Goldsmith, V.H. Kenner. Impact on a simple physical model of the head. J. Biomechanics
6, 1, 1-11 (1973)

3. Rubber motor A twisted rubber band stores energy and can be used to power a model aircraft, for
example. Investigate the properties of such an energy source and how its power output changes with
time.
Background reading:
Wikipedia: Rubber band, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_band
Wikipedia: Rubber Elasticity, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_elasticity
Wikipedia: Rubber band motor, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_band_motor
Wikipedia: Mullins Effect, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullins_effect
Wikipedia: Elastomer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastomer
Youtube: Rubber band airplane, several
Youtube: rubber band powered biplane, several
Hysteresis and Rubber Bands (madphysics.com),
http://www.madphysics.com/exp/hysteresis_and_rubber_bands.htm
Elastomers and entropic springs (Aparna Baskaran, Syracuse University),
http://physics.syr.edu/~abaskara/rubber_popular.html
GCSE Physics Notes: Stretching Rubber (astarmathsandphysics.com),
http://www.astarmathsandphysics.com/gcse_physics_notes/gcse_physics_notes_stretching_rubber
.html
Stretching a Rubber Band (schoolphysics.co.uk), http://www.schoolphysics.co.uk/age1416/Matter/text/Rubber_band/index.html
L. G. McAneny. Rubber band powered motor for model airplane. U.S. Patent No. 4,629,438
(1986), http://www.google.com/patents/US4629438
R. Liedtke. Winding mechanism for rubber band motor. U.S. Patent No. 5,390,763 (1995),
http://www.google.com/patents/US5390763
M. Ward and J. Sweeney. An introduction to the mechanical properties of solid polymers (Wiley,
2005
Harry L. Roderick. Spring motor. US Patent No. 1936072 (1929),
http://www.google.com/patents/US1936072
William H. Miller. Flying model airplane. US Patent No. 4895541 (1990),
http://www.google.com/patents/US4895541
Rubber band car engine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gju3SNMnwY4&feature=youtu.be
NC Science Olympiad: How to Wind and Fly your Helicopter http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=H7HqkcE1oO4&feature=youtu.be
Academic Journals:

G. Savarino and M. R. Fisch. A general physics laboratory investigation of the

thermodynamics of a rubber band. Am. J. Phys. 59, 2, 141-145 (1991)

J. Pellicer, J. A. Manzanares, J. Ziga, and P. Utrillas. Thermodynamics of rubber elasticity. J.

Chem. Educ. 78, 2, 263 (2001)

L. R. G. Treloar. The physics of rubber elasticity (Oxford University Press, 1975)

R. T. Deam and S. F. Edwards. The theory of rubber elasticity. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lon. A 280,
1296, 317-353 (1976)

A. N. Gent. Rubber Elasticity: Basic Concepts and Behaviour. In: Science and Technology of
Rubber (Elsevier, 2005), pp. 1-27,
http://v5.books.elsevier.com/bookscat/samples/9780124647862/9780124647862.PDF