Bouncing Balls Experiment PDF

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For this experiment, we measured 2 metres in the air and this was where the different balls were dropped from. We then set up a phone to video the drop in slow motion to get a more accurate reading. ...

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4 - Bouncing Balls

For this experiment, we measured 2 metres in the air and this was where the different balls were dropped from. We then set up a phone to video the drop in slow motion to get a more accurate reading. We would read off the ruler where the ball reached when it bounced and returned up. We know that the ball would not return to it’s original height because some of the energy is lost in different ways. Each ball was dropped from the same point. We also wanted to see if weight had an effect on the height reached. First, we had to weight the balls on a scale and record the weight. We had to make sure they stayed still so the reading was accurate. We then recorded the weight and once we dropped it, we recorded the height that it bounced to on the ruler. My results were as followed: Type of Ball Tennis ball Ping-pong ball Golf ball Small bouncy ball Large bouncy ball

Weight of ball (g) 58.99 1.99 45.47 36.80 62.76

Lets work out the tennis ball: The input is the gravitational potential energy = m x g x h = 0.0589 x 9.81 x 2 = 1.156 J (3 d.p) at top of bounce

The output is the height reached = 1.32m = 0.0589 x 9.81 x 1.32 = 0.690 J (3 d.p)

To work out efficiency, you use the equation: Useful energy x 100 Total energy =

0.690 x 100 1.156

= 59.7%

Height bounced (m) 1.32 0.80 1.37 1.62 1.80

This means that the ball is fairly efficient. It is over 50% efficient but not by much. This means that it loses a lot of energy so cannot bounce as high as it originally started. Some of the other balls may have had a higher or lower efficiency which proves that the mass and material used can both make a difference in how much energy is wasted in this energy transfer.

It’s energy transfer was as followed: GPE

Kinetic

Elastic Heat, Sound

   

The GPE is the input energy As it is dropped, it becomes kinetic energy As it bounces, it becomes elastic energy in order to bounce back It loses energy through heat when it hits the ground and the sound it makes

Because mass cannot be created or destroyed, the input should equal the output....