Question

Can you apply a compressive force to a rubber band? Why or why not?

Answer 1

For the rubber the large part of the elasticty comes from the uncoiling of polymer chain rather than extention of bons between molecules. The polymer chain is uncoiled and becomes straight as we apply stretching force. After removal of stretching force the chain is again gets coiled. Now when we try to to apply compressive force to rubber band i.e. when we try to coil chain of polymer more then it will always bend. We can apply compression force to very small length of rubber band. But for total band it is not possible to apply compression force.