Why does a rubber band snap back?

Answer: Polymer chains want to tangle

Rubber generates elastic energy — Wrong. Rubber doesn't generate energy—it stores mechanical energy when stretched. The snap-back comes from polymer molecules returning to their natural tangled state.

Polymer chains want to tangle ✓ — Correct! Rubber is made of long polymer chains naturally tangled together (high entropy). Stretching forces them to straighten and align (low entropy). When released, they naturally return to their tangled, relaxed state—this is entropy-driven elasticity!

Static electricity pulls it — Wrong. Static electricity isn't involved. The spring-back is purely mechanical—polymer molecules returning to their preferred tangled configuration.