Release and Rebound Height

Use this page to complete Investigation 5 - Release and Rebound Height.

Question: What is the relationship between the release height of a ball and its rebound
height? Write a conjecture.

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In the video, the students used their data to predict the release height that would be
needed so that the ball would rebound to the marked level.

Release Height (cm) Rebound Height (cm)

100 63
90 56
80 51
70 42
60 38
50 29
40 26
Graphing the Data
1. Use the data that is given to create a scatter plot. Remember to select an
appropriate scale for the data and label your axes. You can create your scatter
plot using the grid below, or you can create one using scatter plot software. You
can also create a scatter plot with paper and pencil and then take a picture of
your finished work and include it here.

2. Looking at the scatter plot, is this a linear or non-linear relation. How do you
know?
Creating a Graphical Model of the Relation

Draw the best fit line/curve through the data points on your scatter plot. Use your graph
to answer the following questions:

1. How can you use your graph to determine the rebound height if you know the
release height?

2. If you need to have the ball rebound to a certain height, how can you use the
graph to determine the release height?

3. What adjustment would you need to make to the scatter plot to determine the
release height if the rebound height is to be 110 cm?
Creating an Algebraic Model of the Relation

You have already decided if the relationship is linear or non-linear.

In a moment, you will choose to follow one of two links to graphing software: one link is
Linear Relation (if you decided that the relationship is linear) and the second link is
Quadratic Relation (if you decided that the relation is non-linear). Each link will open a
desmos file that will allow you to further analyze your data.

● You will enter you data into the table of values.

● A line or curve of best fit will be drawn automatically based on the values you
enter, so be sure that you are accurate as you enter the values.
● The equation of that line/curve of best fit will not be shown. You will be
generating the equation yourself:
○ You will use the sliders provided to determine the values for the
algebraic equation for the line/curve of best fit .
○ When you have a line or curve of best fit that matches the best fit
line/curve that was created by desmos, you will have determined a
relation equation that models the data.
○ Record that equation, which is the algebraic representation of the
relation, on their investigation sheets.
○ Answer any questions that remain on your investigation sheet.

If you think a straight line best fits the data, then select Linear Relation.

If you think a curve best fits the data (i.e. the data is non-linear), then select Quadratic
Relation.
Answer the following questions:

1. What does the x variable represent? ________________________

2. What does the y variable represent? ________________________

3. Write the equation that was determined using technology.

4. How can you rewrite the equation into words to more describe it in a more
meaningful way for the investigation?
 5. Describe how you could use this equation to determine the release height if you
know the rebound height.

6. Determine the release height for a rebound height of 110 cm.

Extending Your Thinking

You were provided with data about the relationship between release height and the
rebound height. Determine the percentage that the ball rebounds from each release
height.

Release Height (cm) Rebound Height (cm) Percent Rebound

100 63
90 56
80 51
70 42
60 38
50 29
40 26

You probably notice that the percentage rebound is approximately the same value for
each release height.
You completed your analysis based on release heights of 40 cm to 100 cm. Using the
rebound height of 110 cm you determined the release height to be a value greater than
100 cm. Both these values are outside of the range of data that was used to investigate
the relationship. When you go beyond the range of data that you collect, you make an
assumption that the same trend will continue before and/or after the range. This is
called the process of extrapolation. In this investigation, you used the information to
extrapolate for the release height for a ball outside the range of data.

1. Would you expect the percentage rebound to be the same for release heights
greater than 100 cm? Why or why not?

2. If the rebound is the same outside the data range, what would the rebound height
be if the ball is released from a height of 200 cm?

3. How would you revise the data collection to investigate whether the rebound
height remains constant?