The room temperature will be measured in order to make any links with the height that the ball bounces with temperature.
Also the squash balls will be kept the same type and brand. If the balls were different brands and types then it would bounce to different heights hence unfair.
The temperature will be kept the same as accurately as possible but limited supplies and conditions are an obstacle therefore the test will not be one hundred percent perfect.
Equipment
- Squash ball
- Meter Ruler
- Clamp Stand
- Clamp
- Boss
Method
Set up a clamp stand with a boss attached at the correct height. Use a ruler.
Attach the clamp to the boss.
Place the squash ball in the clamp.
Release the ball by unscrewing the clamp.
Measure how high the ball bounces.
Record all the results.
Measurements
How high the ball bounces.
The height that the ball bounces from will be altered.
Each experiment will be done three times and an average will be taken. This will show any anomalies and make the test as accurate as possible.
Prediction
I predict that the higher the ball is dropped from, the higher the ball will bounce. I think that however high the ball is released from the same amount of energy loss will be the lost every time. So the height the ball is dropped from is proportional to the height the ball bounces. The higher the ball is lifted the more gravitational potential energy there will be. This results in a larger amount of kinetic energy converted from the gravitational potential energy when the ball is released. This is further supported via the GPE equation: gravitational potential = height x mass x gravity. However eventually the height the ball bounces will not change as the height the ball is released from increases. This is due to air resistance taking effect; the ball will reach terminal velocity. Terminal velocity is a state where the ball cannot pick up any more speed because of air resistance.
Predicted graph:
Experiment
Analysis
The attached graph shows a smooth line which suggests that the results were accurate and efficient. The plotted points on the graph go up steadily and there are no obvious anomalies. The height the ball is dropped from and the height the ball bounces are proportional and show positive correlation. This supports the prediction made earlier. Its supports the statement, the higher the ball is dropped from, the higher the ball will bounce. Positive correlation deems this correct as it shows that the higher the ball was dropped from, the higher the ball bounce.
It is clear that terminal velocity was not reached due to the height that the ball bounced increased every time the ball was released from ten centimetres higher. I feel that to reach terminal velocity the ball would have to be dropped from a height that exceeds one hundred centimetres.
Evaluation
Judging the height the ball bounces by human eye could be improved on by using computer software or a video camera. Many people came up with different opinions for the height the ball bounced. Also the ball could not be released at exactly on the correct point intended for example, intending to release the ball from 10cm but in fact releasing the ball from 10.3cm or 9.8cm etc. Also the surface the ball was dropped on was imperfect, minor bumps in the surface altered the bounce of the ball. Limited resources were a major factor of bad aspects from the experiment completed. This is due to recording the height that the ball bounced with human eye. The human eye is unable to record such accurate data at such speeds. Some of the recordings could possible have been two centimetres out which made the test more unfair. A video camera could have been used to record all the bounces. Then the footage could have been slowed down on the camera which would have made measurements much more accurate therefore would have made a more fair experiment.
Positive elements of the experiment are that the test was kept reasonably fair considering the resources available.
The data collected is fairly trustable, this is because the attached graph has a smooth line and the results appear to be correct.
