An Experiment to find out the effect of temperature on the height to which a squash ball bounces.

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H. Morgan                08/05/2007

An Experiment to find out the effect of temperature on the height to which a squash ball bounces

Planning

This is an experiment to find out the effect of temperature on the height to which a squash ball bounces.  A squash ball is made of rubber and is hollow.

The height to which the ball bounces will depend on two variables, the initial height in which it is dropped, and the temperature of the ball.  For this experiment the temperature of the ball is being examined therefore the height in which it is dropped will stay the same to keep it a fair test.  The height will be 100cm.  The ruler will be held up by a clamp stand so that it can be kept straight.

To heat the ball, it will be put in a beaker of water, which has been heated by a kettle and the water will be left to cool, at every 10°C the ball will be dropped.  When the water is at room temperature and will cool no more, ice will be added to cool the water to zero degrees.

The range in which the measurements will be taking will be measured every 10 degrees. This is a good range and will allow 11 measurements to be taken (100°C - 0°C).

The temperature will be measured in degrees Kelvin.  The Kelvin scale begins at absolute zero and increases in degrees just like the Celsius scale.  Absolute zero is the limit of how cold an object can become.  0°C becomes 273 Kelvin (273 K) and 100°C becomes 373 K.

There are other variables in this experiment but as they are not being tested the must be kept the same to make it a fair test.  The same squash ball is important because at different weights the amount of potential energy stored by the ball will change altering the height of the bounce. Keeping the same height of drop is important as at different heights will also change the amount of potential energy in the ball. The same surface will be used as different levels of hardness of the surface will alter the bounce, for example it would bounce as high on carpet as wood.  The surface used will be a wooden smooth table top.  It is important that it is smooth so that the ball does not bounce of at any other angle than straight up so the length of the height can be measured more accurately.  The temperature of the water will be measured with a thermometer, this will also be used to stir the water so that the water is heated equally and the temperature of the water is even.  The table top surface will be kept the same, and it will be wiped dry after every test so there is no water on the table which may alter the next test.

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Repeat readings will be done so an average can be taken.  This will make the results more reliable and the average more accurate.  Three different tests will be done at each temperature.

The measurement of the bounce will be taken to the nearest cm.  To read the length accurately, the person taking the reading will be looking at eye level.  The bounce will be measured from the bottom of the ball.

A diagram to show the set out of apparatus in the experiment

The equipment used will be

  • a squash ball
  • a ...

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