What are flexible curves made of?

Discussion in 'General Science & Technology' started by eram, Jan 12, 2014.

  1. eram Sciengineer Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,877
    This may sound like a trivial question but i can't find the answer online. I bought this flexible curve some time ago. It's a flexible ruler that allows one to draw curve functions.

    It consists of a rubber casing and a strip of malleable metal inside. What is that metal? Is it lead? I hope not.
     
  2. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  3. Write4U Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    20,069
    The ability of metals to retain the shape they are formed in is called "malleability" . Copper is used in several flexible rulers.
    http://www.sbsmodel.com/ruler

    OTOH , the ability of flexible rulers to return to their original (flat) shape after being distorted is called "elasticity". These usually have a thin steel plate inside a plastic casing.

    http://www.americanmachinetools.com/properties_of_metal.htm
     
  4. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  5. Abd Registered Member

    Messages:
    1
    ok i tried to melt the metal inside the metal ruler, i assume that its melting point is below 1,950C since my stove is fueled by natural gas. the metal is grey and silvery when i left it out for a few days, so rest assured mine is probably not lead.
     
  6. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  7. exchemist Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    12,451
    Elasticity has little to do with it. Flexible curves are plastic rather than elastic. Elastic means spontaneously returning to the original dimensions when deforming stress is removed. Like a spring, for example. That is exactly what a flexible curve does not do. It retains the shape it is given. That is plastic behaviour.

    I don't know the construction but mine bends only in 2 dimensions, strongly resisting bending "up" or "down", relative to the flat on it designed to rest on the paper. I had always assumed there must be some mechanism a bit like a bicycle chain inside, it to achieve the flexibility in one plane only, plus something like lead to give the plastic deformation. But I'd be interested to know.

    By the way, it seems early versions of this device were apparently known as "Lesbian rules".

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbian_rule
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2018
  8. Write4U Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    20,069
    Is it not desirable to have a ruler be as straight and flat as possible? Elasticity ensures a return to its original flat/straight shape.

    http://www.americanmachinetools.com/properties_of_metal.htm
     
  9. Write4U Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    20,069
    These usually have a thin steel plate inside a plastic casing.
    http://www.americanmachinetools.com/properties_of_metal.htm
     
  10. exchemist Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    12,451
    Not a flexible curve, though. The purpose of these is to enable a smooth curve to be drawn through a set of points to form a line graph, or to follow a curved shape so that it can be reproduced in a drawing.

    For that, you want something that can be moulded by hand to fit a curve and then will retain that shape, to allow it to be traced with a writing instrument. The last thing you want is for it to spring back to its original, straight shape.
     
    Write4U likes this.
  11. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    18,935
    Lead is not dangerous unless you eat it.

    Don't eat it. You'll be fine.

    The big health scare around lead is about ingesting it - and doing so in toxic quantities. When unconstrained, it can inadvertently get into your system (say, by unsupervised kids eating a lot of lead-impregnated paint chips).

    But since the curve is encased in plastic, you're not in direct contact with it. And even if you were, you're still not in any danger, unless you take it to bed and cuddle with it.

    (Note: the dose is the toxicity. Every substance has a toxic level - even water. You normally don't concern yourself with whether you've ingested a toxic dose of water. Lead too, has a toxic dose. It's less than water. Lead is not some magical lethal substance.)
     
  12. sculptor Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    8,466
    mine is a square lead bar with plastic covering
     
  13. sideshowbob Sorry, wrong number. Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,057
    It seems to me that the main purpose of the plastic coatong would be to protect the user from the toxic lead - and to protect the soft lead from damage.
     

Share This Page