Double Ball Bounce

1.INTRODUCTION:

• In my project I answer the question "Why does a smaller ball bounce much higher than the height from which it was dropped when it is simultaneously dropped on top of a larger, more massive ball?" This occurs due to certain physics principles such as momentum and elastic collision.

2.MATERIALS:

1. Basketball

2. Tennis Ball

3. Astro Blaster Toy

3.PROCEDURE:

• In my experiment I first drop the tennis ball and basketball individually from a 1 meter height. I noted how neither of the two balls bounce higher than the original drop height. Then I drop the two balls at the same time with the tennis ball on top of the basketball. When I do this the tennis ball bounces much higher than one meter. I repeated this with the astro blaster toy and got the same results. I noted that when using the astro blaster, the more balls in between the top and bottom ones, the higher the bounce of the top one.

• SEE THE ACTION:

4.SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES

• Momentum

  • Calculated by multiplying mass times velocity of an object. This is the vector quantity of movement an object has.

• Collision

  • A brief event that consists of the touching of two objects resulting in an abrupt change in momentum and/or an exchange of energy.

• Kinetic Energy

  • The energy an object has while in motion. The energy of motion.

• Potential Energy

  • The dictionary defines potential energy as "the energy of a body or system as a result of its position in an electric, magnetic, or gravitational field. It is measured in joules (SI units), electron volts, ergs, etc.". This is the energy an object has before it is in motion. Gravitational potential energy is higher the higher the object is off the ground.

• Conservation of Momentum

  • The total momentum of two objects before a collision is the same amount of momentum after the collision. Whatever momentum one object loses, the other gains.

• Inelastic Collision

  • A collision where some of the kinetic energy is changed into another form of energy during the collision.

• Elastic Collision

  • A colision where there is no loss of kinetic energy during the collision.

• Conservation of Energy

  • States that the total energy of an isolated system cannot change. Energy cannot be created or destroyed in an event, such as a collision, but can change forms.

• The results of my project were due to momentum and collisions. The basket ball transfers its kinetic energy to the tennis ball upon impact which gives it more momentum which in turn makes the tennis ball bounce higher.

5.SAFETY:

• Safety goggles should be worn whenever operating the Astro Blaster Toy.