Introduction
This practical was an investigation involving the use of a tennis ball and a meter ruler. The tennis ball was held and dropped at a specific height above the ground. The height of the bounce was then measured. This investigation was carried out to find out whether the efficiency of the bounce varied with the height of release of the tennis ball. If the bounce were 100% efficient, then the tennis ball would have bounce off the ground and return to the starting height.
Research question
How was the efficiency of the bounce dependent on the height of a ball being dropped?
Independent Variable: The height of release of the tennis ball
Dependent Variable: The peak height of the bounce
Controlled Variables:
• The mass of the tennis ball
• The tennis ball
• Surface the ball is dropped on
• The initial velocity …show more content…
A meter ruler perpendicular was taped to a wall and then a setsquare (a right-angled triangular plate) was used to make sure the ruler was perpendicular to the wall.
2. The tennis ball was dropped from a rough starting height (e.g. around 1 meter) as a test. From this, the students were able to gage the height the ball was roughly meant to bounce. The camera was then held around this height to record the peak height of the bounce.
3. One student then held the tennis ball at the specific height above the ground, for example 1.00m, next to the meter ruler and another student recorded the starting height of the ball.
4. The ball was then held back at the starting height and the video was started. The tennis ball was then dropped. The bounce was recorded on camera.
5. The drop was repeated two more times to increase reliability of results, as the students were able to work out averages of their readings taken.
6. Steps 1-5 were repeated, however at different starting heights that increased every 10cm. The experiment was repeated 3 times for each of the 6 different starting heights from 1.00m to 1.50m above the
This practical was an investigation involving the use of a tennis ball and a meter ruler. The tennis ball was held and dropped at a specific height above the ground. The height of the bounce was then measured. This investigation was carried out to find out whether the efficiency of the bounce varied with the height of release of the tennis ball. If the bounce were 100% efficient, then the tennis ball would have bounce off the ground and return to the starting height.
Research question
How was the efficiency of the bounce dependent on the height of a ball being dropped?
Independent Variable: The height of release of the tennis ball
Dependent Variable: The peak height of the bounce
Controlled Variables:
• The mass of the tennis ball
• The tennis ball
• Surface the ball is dropped on
• The initial velocity …show more content…
A meter ruler perpendicular was taped to a wall and then a setsquare (a right-angled triangular plate) was used to make sure the ruler was perpendicular to the wall.
2. The tennis ball was dropped from a rough starting height (e.g. around 1 meter) as a test. From this, the students were able to gage the height the ball was roughly meant to bounce. The camera was then held around this height to record the peak height of the bounce.
3. One student then held the tennis ball at the specific height above the ground, for example 1.00m, next to the meter ruler and another student recorded the starting height of the ball.
4. The ball was then held back at the starting height and the video was started. The tennis ball was then dropped. The bounce was recorded on camera.
5. The drop was repeated two more times to increase reliability of results, as the students were able to work out averages of their readings taken.
6. Steps 1-5 were repeated, however at different starting heights that increased every 10cm. The experiment was repeated 3 times for each of the 6 different starting heights from 1.00m to 1.50m above the