Rubber - the Hotter, the Tighter !

Most recent answer: 10/22/2007

Q:
why does rubber and string stretch when heated
- Anonymous
A:
It doesn’t! Many things get softer and easier to stretch when they are warmed up, but rubber is curiously different. If you apply heat to a stretched rubber band it will actually shrink. There is a famous demonstration that shows this, pictured .

-Tamara

(published on 10/22/2007)