We are doing an experiment to see how the efficiency of a squash ball changes, when the heat is changed. We are testing its efficiency by dropping it from a certain height to measure the rebound height.

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                                                Squash Ball Investigation

Introduction

We are doing an experiment to see how the efficiency of a squash ball changes, when the heat is changed. We are testing its efficiency by dropping it from a certain height to measure the rebound height.

Back Ground Research

When you drop a  squash ball from a certain height, the ball has G.P.E. When it goes down it turns into Kinetic Energy (K.E), and you get a small amount of heat energy when it falls due to friction. When the ball hits the ground the ball deforms and turns into Elasticised potential energy, heat and sound. The ball is squashed along the ground. This causes friction between the ground and the ball. The ball then regains its normal shape. The ball then rebounds up which forms kinetic energy. When the ball has reached its maximum height it turns back into Gravitational potential energy.

Efficiency is Useful energy

                      Instant energy   x 100 

Factors that could change the outcome of the experiment

  • The same person drops the ball from the metre stick each time
  • The same colour squash ball is used each time
  • The squash ball is dropped from the same height
  • The surface in which the squash ball bounces on is the same each time.
  • The same person is used to measure the rebound height.
  • The temperature of the ball is the same for each measurement.
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  • We have to use the same person each time the ball is dropped because people give different forces when they release the ball.

  • We have to use the same colour squash ball each time because there are different types of squash balls that give different bounces as some are softer than others

  • The squash ball has to be dropped from the same height each time because the higher you drop it from the longer the ball will travel causing it to go faster making greater efficiency, also the higher you drop it from the more air resistance ...

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