Breaking Rubber

Most recent answer: 05/16/2013

Q:
Dear Physics Van, I was wondering how you made the bouncy ball crack into glass.
- Angel Hines (age 10)
Maroa, IL, U.S.A
A:
I bet what they did was dip it in liquid nitrogen, which is very cold. Ordinary rubber that cold becomes as brittle as glass at room temperature.

Mike W

(published on 05/16/2013)