How strong is nylon? in Synthetic Fibres and Plastics – Class 8 Science Experiment

Chapter Name: Synthetic Fibres and Plastics

Activity Name: How strong is nylon? in Synthetic Fibres and Plastics

Activity Description:

Required Items:

1. Iron stand with a clamp
2. Cotton, wool, silk, and nylon threads (approximately 50cm in length)
3. Pan or weight holder
4. Weights (starting from 10 grams)
5. Table to record data

Step by Step Procedure:

1. Set up the iron stand with a clamp securely.
2. Attach the cotton thread to the clamp so that it hangs freely from the stand.
3. Attach a pan or weight holder to the free end of the cotton thread.
4. Gradually add weights to the pan, starting from 10 grams, one by one.
5. Continue adding weights until the cotton thread breaks.
6. Record the total weight required to break the cotton thread in Table 2.
7. Repeat the same process for the wool, silk, and nylon threads.
8. Ensure that all the threads used in the experiment are of the same length and similar thickness.

Experiment Observations:

Record the weight required to break each type of thread (cotton, wool, silk, and nylon) in Table 2.

Precautions:

1. Use threads of the same length and similar thickness for accurate comparisons.
2. Ensure that the setup is secure to avoid accidents during the experiment.
3. Handle weights with care to prevent any injuries.

Lesson Learnt from Experiment:

By comparing the weight required to break each type of thread, students will learn about the tensile strength of different fibers. They may observe that nylon exhibits higher strength compared to cotton, wool, and silk. Interestingly, it can be noted that a nylon thread of the same thickness is as strong as a steel wire. This activity demonstrates the strength and versatility of nylon as a synthetic fiber in various applications.