Does the spring constant of rubber affect the rate at which it cools?

In summary, there is no known relationship between the spring constant of rubber and its rate of cooling constant 'k'. Investigating this would be a waste of time as the two variables are unrelated.
  • #1
namitakn
4
0
Does the spring constant of a piece of rubber affect its rate of cooling constant 'k' ?

1) Is there any formula, any proven relationship?

2) If there isn't, would investigating it make any sense? Or would it end up being a waste of time as the two variables are totally unrelated?
Is there a possibility of a relationship between the two.

3)I am not sure, but when I asked this to someone, I was told to read something about hysteresis (don't know if I spelt it right!). What is it? I couldn't understand anything I read about it? And could it possibly answer my question?
 
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  • #2
I don't see any reason to expect any dependence. Both might be correlated with the density of rubber, but that is like asking for a correlation with the market price... sure, you will find some, but not because of a physical relation. In addition, spring constants for rubber are not well-defined, and a material property, whereas k depends on the shape and size of your material.
 
  • #3
Okay, so ...

yes, I know that the spring constant for a piece rubber is defined only over a very small range, it reaches elastic limit very soon. Therefore, the original s.constant will be considered.

Is there any other variable that has a closer connection with spring constant that I could investigate?
 
  • #4
The k factor in the Newton cooling equation and k factor denoting spring constant are coincidentally using the same letter for representation. As far as I know, there is no relationship between the two properties. Like most formulas, one can use different letters to represent different quantities, as long as it is understood which quantity goes with which letter.
 
  • #5
It seems a plausible speculation (at least to somebody like me who knows a bit about continuum mechanics and heat transfer but nothing much about chemistry) that the elastic behavior and thermal properties of rubber would both be related to its behaviour at the molecular level, i.e. the way the long chain molecules "uncoil", and/or are intertwined with each other.

But I have no idea whether this has already been studied, or what the conclusions were if it has been studied.
 

1. What is the concept of spring constant in rubber?

The spring constant of rubber refers to the measure of the stiffness or elasticity of rubber. It is a measure of the force required to stretch or compress a rubber material. It is usually denoted by the letter "k" and is measured in units of Newtons per meter (N/m).

2. How does the spring constant of rubber affect its cooling rate?

The spring constant of rubber does not directly affect its cooling rate. However, it does affect the material's ability to store and release heat. A higher spring constant means that the rubber is stiffer and has a higher heat capacity, which allows it to absorb and release more heat, resulting in a slower cooling rate.

3. Is there a specific formula to calculate the spring constant of rubber?

Yes, the spring constant of rubber can be calculated using the formula k = F/x, where k is the spring constant, F is the applied force, and x is the amount of stretch or compression of the rubber material. This formula is also known as Hooke's Law.

4. Does the temperature affect the spring constant of rubber?

Yes, the temperature can affect the spring constant of rubber. Rubber tends to become stiffer at lower temperatures, which increases its spring constant. This means that the cooling rate of rubber may be slightly affected by the temperature at which it is being cooled.

5. How can the spring constant of rubber be measured?

The spring constant of rubber can be measured using a variety of methods, such as using a force gauge to measure the force required to stretch or compress the rubber, or using a torsion pendulum to measure the oscillation period of a rubber material. These methods can provide accurate measurements of the spring constant of rubber.

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