Physics Lab 1 Bouncing Ball Experiment Aim: To study the result of change in drop height on the bounce/bounce height

t of a plastic ball on a hard surface. Hypothesis: I believe that the bounce of the ball i.e., the bounce height will increase with increase in drop height. Variables: 1. Fixed/Controlled Variables: Temperature of the ball and the surface Air pressure inside the ball Material of the ball Mass of the ball 2. Independent Variables: Drop height (Height from which ball is dropped) 3. Dependent Variables: Bounce height Apparatus used: 1. Plastic ball 2. Meter rule 3. Iron clamp stand Method: 1. A meter rule was mounted vertically on the surface with the help of an iron clamp. 2. The bottom tip of the ball was lined with a cm mark on the ruler and then dropped (The ball was positioned close to the ruler but special care was taken to make sure that the ball did not touch the ruler). Both the height of release and height of bounce were recorded 6 times for 5 different drop heights. 3. All measurements were taken from the bottom of the ball, that is, the lowest tip of the ball so that the readings could easily be taken at a

constant point (All readings were rounded to the nearest whole number). To minimize parallax errors I aligned my head with the ball as it bounced while taking the reading. Measures taken to control the fixed variables: 1. The material, shape and size of the ball were kept constant throughout by using the same ball repeatedly. 2. I maintained a short gap of about 15-20 seconds between two trials so that the temperature of the ball would return to room temperature if, at all, any heat was produced during the experiment. Raw Data: Raw Data TableTrial No. (1) Reading No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. (2) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. (3) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Drop Height (h) (in cm) 100 100 100 100 100 80 80 80 80 80 60 60 60 60 60 Bounce Height (b) (in cm) 57 61 59 55 58 49 46 49 50 46 37 38 34 40 41

Trial No. (4)

Reading No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Drop Height (h) (in cm) 40 40 40 40 40 20 20 20 20 20

Bounce Height (b) (in cm) 27 26 23 27 28 15 13 14 13 15

(5)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Calculations (Processing the raw data): For Reading 1Average bounce height, A = (Sum of all bounce heights)/No. of trials taken Therefore, A = (57+61+59+55+58)/5 A = 290/5 = 58 cm Bounce % = (Bounce height(b)/Drop height(h)) x 100% So, Bounce % = (58/100) x 100% = 58% Serial No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Bounce height (b) (in cm) 57 61 59 55 58 Deviation (D) -1 3 1 -3 0 D2 1 9 1 9 0

Absolute Uncertainty = + or ((Summation of D2)/(No. of readings-1))1/2 = + or ((1+9+1+9+0)/4)1/2 = + or 51/2 = + or 2 Processed Data Table: Serial No. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Conclusion: My hypothesis that the bounce height of a ball (mass, shape and material kept constant) increases with increase in the height from which the ball is dropped, is proven to be correct. Evaluation: 1. The ball was not dropped with the same force in all the trials performed (Human Error). 2. Though care was taken to minimize such an error, heat was generated in the ball after every fall. Thus, the bounce of the ball may have varied due to the resultant change in temperature as well. 3. Since the bounce height was observed with the naked eye with the help of a meter rule, it was difficult to get a very precise reading of the bounce height and so the readings were taken to the nearest whole number. Problems Encountered: 1. The bounce % increased with decrease in drop height possibly because less kinetic energy was lost when the ball was dropped from a lower height. Average Bounce Height (in cm) 58 48 38 26 14 Bounce % 58% 60% 63.3% 65.5% 70% Uncertainty -2 to +2 -2 to +2 -3 to +3 -2 to +2 -1 to +1

Possible Solutions: 1. If, perhaps, more number of trials were performed the average bounce height and percentage would be more accurate.