Bouncy & Sticky Balls

Although most sports balls will bounce when hitting hard surfaces, not all balls have such properties. Clay balls, for example, may either bounce or stick, depending on the consistency of clay. Some clay balls may even shatter upon contact, due to fragility.

In order to compare bouncing and sticking properties of various types of balls, consider the following graph, excerpted from Bounce, Roll, & Fly: The Science of Balls, Volume 8 from Schottenbauer Publishing.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the initial position of each ball? Write the coordinates in terms of (x, y) pairs.
2. Which ball is initially higher?
3. Which ball falls faster? Why is this the case?
4. What is the time difference between points of contact with the wood?
5. Do both balls bounce? Cite data from the graph to answer the question. What is the height of bounce?

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

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