Investigation of Different Variables' Effect on the Rate of Bounce of a Squash Ball

Investigation of Different Variabes' Effect on the Rate of Bounce of a Squash Ball

Aim:

The aim of this experiment is to find out and observe how different

variables affect the rate of bounce on a squash ball. There are many

variables that affect the rate of this reaction such as the following:

1. Drop Height (Meters)

2. Surface (e.g. Grass, tarmac etc)

3. Temperature of ball (°C)

4. Drop/Throw (Force)

5. Air Drag

6. Angle*

7. Area

8. Mass of ball

9. Pressure of air in ball

10. Material of ball

Outcome:

Height of bounce between first and second bounce.

In my investigation I will be testing how changing the angle affects

the distance between the first and second bounce of a squash ball. I

will do various experiments and then evaluate the results and come to

a conclusion.

Introduction:

Collision theory - Collisions between reactant particles are needed

for the reaction to take place in order to form a product. Some

collisions are successful and give a product while others don't

because particles don't have enough energy.

Activation energy - The amount of energy needed for the reaction to be

started. If there is enough energy then the reaction takes place and a

product is formed, but if there isn't enough then no reaction takes

place.

Terminal Velocity - Maximum velocity which a freely falling object

reaches when it is falling through a viscous (semi-fluid) medium such

as air. If the effects of the medium through which a body is falling

towards the Earth were ignored, the body would, theoretically,

continue to accelerate until it hit the ground....

... middle of paper ...

... what I thought would happen did.

At this point I am able to answer my main hypothesis which was 'How

does changing the angle affect the distance between the 1st and 2nd

bounce' the answer to this would be that changing the angle of drop

would either have a greater gap between the two bounces or a decrease

between the two bounces.

Overall this was a very successful experiment and everything went very

smoothly, and that was why my results were very good, and I am able to

make a conclusion like this.

Bibliography:

Books:

New Modular Science for GCSE

The New Book of Knowledge

GCSE Science

CD-ROM's:

Microsoft, Encarta, Encyclopaedia Deluxe 2000

Britannica, Encyclopaedia Deluxe 2000

Software Programs:

Microsoft Office XP Professional (Student Licence)

Microsoft Word 2000