If you are observant, when you are getting close to exploding the watermelon, you will notice the fruit start to change shape slightly. You will need at least 400 rubber bands to complete this watermelon explosion experiment. If you only put 100 rubber bands on it won’t make the rubberband cut in half, but it may make it eventually create a seam in the fruit to release the tension. The more watermelon rubber bands you put on, the more potential energy the watermelon gains in the displacement of its shape and content. This way you gently slide it over the fruit to the midsection. It is easiest to have 2-3 people to put the rubberbands on the watermelon. I highly suggest doing this watermelon challenge outside as it can make a mess as the name exploding watermelon suggests! Then again, that’s part of the reason it makes a great activity to add to your kids’ summer bucket list. The rubber bands apply force to the rind forcing it’s shape to change. The rubber bands slowly break the structure of the rind until it can no longer hold together. If you remove the rubber bands, it will return to it’s original form. This movement from potential to kinetic energy will in essence cut the watermelon in half and make the fruit appear to explode.Ī watermelon isn’t pliable, the rind gives this summer fruit a solid structure. In this exploding watermelon science experiment you will observe the potential energy of a stretched out rubberband convert to kinetic energy as the rubberband retracts back to its original size. apron (optional – to keep your clothes watermelon free).
goggles (optional – to avoid getting watermelon pieces in your eyes).gloves (optional, in case you break rubbebands to protect your hands).bowl (optional, but super helpful in keeping the watermelon stationary).400-600 rubberbands (how many depends on the size of watermelon you get).How Many Rubber Bands to Explode a Watermelonįor this watermelon rubber band experiment you will need the following supplies: So in other words, a stretched out rubberband has potential energy, but when you let go and it retracts the movement turns into kinetic energy. So wind blowing leaves, a soft ball that has been thrown, and an object falling all have kinetic energy. Kinetic Energy is anything that has movement.A bicycle on top of a hill, a book held over your head, and a stretched out rubber band all have potential energy. stored energy an object has because of its position or state. Potential energy is anything that has the possibility of movement.
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