Re: If a rubber band was stretched in space and released what would it do?

John,
          
When the stretched rubber band slips off your thumb, it exerts a 
force on your thumb that is directed towards your thumb. This causes an equal 
force to be exerted by the thumb on the rubber band in the opposite direction 
(i.e) away from your thumb (From Newton's Third Law). Hence the rubber band 
flies away from your thumb. If the rubber band is allowed to slip from both your 
finger and your thumb, there will be a force exerted by your finger on the 
rubber band away from your finger, and by your thumb on the rubber band away 
from your thumb. Both these forces will be in opposite directions. The magnitude 
of these forces will depend on the force with which the rubber band slipped off 
your finger and your thumb. These forces should be about the same. Hence, the 
forces will just about cancel each other out, and the rubber band will not fire 
in any direction. There might be a small movement in one direction due to the 
force exerted by your finger and thumb being slightly different in magnitude. 
The same will take place in space as well.
            I hope that answers your question!


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Another Mad Scientist gave the following input:

If you could let a rubber band slip off 
your thumb and index finger at exactly 
the same time, then the two ends of the band
would meet in the middle and it would
fall to the floor.

In space the band would just hang there
by your hand.

It's probably impossible for you to make this happen.
If you release one end of the band from your thumb,
then you have to release the other 
end within about one thousandth of a second. 
Otherwise the band will either
shoot away or snap you in the face.

-- Eric Kramer