Have you ever ever puzzled why balls bounce? This exercise makes use of in a different way formed balls to research how and why balls bounce in a different way.
I’ve included FREE directions for a science investigation to seek out the bounciest ball with a useful desk for recording outcomes.
Balls to make use of:
- Rugby ball
- Soccer
- Tennis Ball
- Ping pong Ball
- Basketball
- Squash ball
Take a look at the in a different way formed balls and take a look at bouncing them on the ground. What do you discover?
Issues to consider
Which ball do you assume would be the hardest to bounce within the course you need it to bounce?
Are there any similarities between the balls that bounce the very best? What sort of sport are they used for?
Are you able to bounce every ball right into a container? Are some more durable than others? Is that this associated to the kind of sport they’re often used for?
Why do balls bounce science investigation
This easy science experiment investigates how the form and measurement of a ball impacts how far and for the way lengthy it bounces.
You’ll want
Pen and paper
Various kinds of balls
Tape measure
Chalk
Directions
Take a look at the various kinds of balls and take a look at bouncing them gently on the ground.
Place the balls so as from most bouncy to least bouncy.
Use an extended ruler or tape measure and chalk to mark heights of 0.25m, 0.5m, 0.75m, 1m, 1.25m, 1.5m and 1.75m on a wall open air.
Drop the balls gently one after the other and file the peak of the primary bounce. Attempt to use the identical pressure every time and drop every ball from the identical top.
Report the variety of bounces every ball makes earlier than stopping.
Repeat 3 occasions for every ball and calculate the typical top reached and variety of bounces.
Extra investigation concepts
Attempt dropping the ball with out additional pressure after which making use of pressure to seek out out when it bounces greater.
Observe which balls bounce straight upwards and which bounce off at an angle.
Keep in mind – when evaluating how totally different balls bounce, think about the situations it’s best to hold the identical, akin to the peak from which the ball is dropped and the pressure used to drop it.
Why do balls bounce?
When a ball is dropped, gravity pulls it towards the bottom, slowing it down so that every bounce is shorter and shorter till, ultimately, the ball stops bouncing.
The pressure of the ball hitting the arduous floor places an equal pressure again onto the ball, that means it bounces again up. This occurs as a result of balls are produced from an elastic materials, permitting them to be squashed or stretched after which return to their authentic form. If the ball was manufactured from a softer materials, like plasticine, it might be squashed on the bottom and wouldn’t bounce again up, or if it have been manufactured from a tough materials, akin to glass, it might break when dropped.
Why do balls cease bouncing?
When a ball is held within the air, it has potential power ( that is the power saved within the ball due to its top ). When the ball is dropped, gravity pulls it down, and the potential power is transformed into kinetic power. When the ball hits the bottom, some power is misplaced within the collision, and so the ball loses power every time it bounces till there’s no power left.
Keep in mind – power is at all times conserved; the overall power just isn’t misplaced, however adjustments type.
Extension concepts
Attempt bouncing your balls on totally different surfaces to research how altering the floor, adjustments the bounce.
Extra Sporty Science for Youngsters
Check your response time utilizing only a ruler! That is nice enjoyable to do with a buddy to seek out out who has the quickest response time. You can too examine to seek out out in case your response time could be improved.
Attempt one in all my 20 straightforward sports activities science investigations for teenagers! These embrace discovering out how a lot sugar sure drinks include, how one can hold bones sturdy and wholesome and even making a mannequin lung!
Do that enjoyable investigation into skipping rope lengths from Science Buddies.
We’ve additionally received tons extra thrilling science experiments to strive. I’d love you to have a look round!
Don’t neglect to tag me on social media in the event you strive any of our straightforward science experiments for teenagers. We cherished seeing them in motion!
Final Up to date on June 14, 2024 by Emma Vanstone
