The effect the surface type has on

bouncy ball’s bounce

Jack, Ze’ev, Emilie

Objective
To measure the return height difference when a bouncy ball
is dropped on different surfaces.
Materials
*Standard medium rubber *1-ply commercial grade
bouncy ball(solid) brown paper towel
*8 surface types *Gallon size plastic Ziploc bag
*Standard lab table *2-layered cardboard
*3-ply dinner size napkin *8.5 x 11 standard printer
*2-ply bounty brand paper paper
towel *Aluminium foil standard
grade
Prediction
We predicted that the 2-layer cardboard would have the least return distance and
the standard lab table would have the greatest return distance.
Least: Greatest:
2-Layer Standard
Cardboard table top
Our group used precision when measuring the return height of each
trial of each surface type by dropping the ball from the same height
(50 cm) each time and not putting the ruler on the surface type, but
next to it.
Comparing Gifs
Comparing Gifs
Comparing Gifs
Was Our Prediction Correct?
Our groups prediction for the lowest return distance was correct, the 2 layered
cardboard had the least return height. The ball bounced an average of 13 cm on
the cardboard. Our prediction that the lab table would have the greatest return
height was wrong, the 8.5x11 printer paper had the greatest return height, with an
average of 34.66 cm. The average of the standard lab table was only 32.33 cm.
 Side-by-Side Comparison
Quantitative Data: Qualitative Data: Qualitative Data: Quantitative Data:

Trial 1: 36 Trial 1: 15

Trial 2: 33 Trial 2: 12

Trial 3: 35 Trial 3: 12

Average: Average: 13
34.66
Research Extension
Some surfaces absorb more energy than others do, if you
bounce the ball on a softer surface, more energy will be
absorbed and the less it will bounce. If you bounce the ball on
a hard surface, less energy will be absorbed and it will be
able to bounce higher.
 Extras

We dropped the ball at

50 cm each time

We used a meter
stick to measure the
height of the return
distance