Bouncing Ball Conservation of Energy

In summary, the heavier the ball, the quicker it loses energy. This is because the ball is compressing more and therefore losing more heat.
  • #1
gbaby370
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I have just recently completed a lab in Conservation of Energy. My course is through correspondence, so my labs are virtual. I noticed that the heavier the ball was, the haters the total energy dropped as the ball continued to bounce. Now I understand that energy can be transferred into many different things (heat, sound etc...), and would have to overcome air resistance. Assuming that all properties of each ball where the same, except for mass; Why does the heavier ball lose total energy quicker than the lighter ball?
 
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  • #2
Part of this depends on how elastic is the material that the ball is made of. Is it a compound ball, such a hollow ball filled with air inside (air is very elastic)? A billiard ball is heaver than a rubber ball, but will retain more energy per bounce than some types of rubber balls if the billiard ball is bounced on a hard enough surface.
 
  • #3
gbaby370 said:
Assuming that all properties of each ball where the same, except for mass; Why does the heavier ball lose total energy quicker than the lighter ball?
During the bounce, the kinetic energy of the ball is converted into elastic potential of the ball, and then back to the kinetic energy. To store more kinetic energy in elastic potential, you need to compress the ball more. That should make sense intuitive as well. All other things being equal, you expect heavier ball to compress more during the bounce. That typically results in greater losses of energy to heat.

On the other hand, the air resistance doesn't depend on mass, so energy lost to drag is going to be exactly the same, and so proportionally lower for heavier ball. But it's a very minor effect for this experiment.
 
  • #4
gbaby370 said:
Why does the heavier ball lose total energy quicker than the lighter ball?

This is not true in general. The amount of energy lost at each bounce will depend on many factors. The simulation (?) you happen to be using is making some assumptions that you may not be aware of. In general, you usually find quite the reverse because air resistance becomes less relevant for heavy objects and 'good bouncers' tend to be heavy and made with a very resilient and low loss material. Ball bearings on a steel plate are 'heavy' but go on bouncing for ages.
Re-examine the data that your virtual lab uses.
 
  • #5
I have a new bouncing ball question. Seems to fit in this category... If a bouncing ball, about the size you would find in a vending machine (roughly 1 inch in diameter) was dropped from a 30 floor balcony, would it break the windscreen of a car?
 

FAQ: Bouncing Ball Conservation of Energy

What is the conservation of energy principle?

The conservation of energy principle, also known as the law of energy conservation, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can only be transferred or transformed from one form to another. This means that the total amount of energy in a closed system remains constant over time.

How does the conservation of energy apply to bouncing balls?

The conservation of energy applies to bouncing balls because when a ball bounces, the potential energy it has due to its height is converted into kinetic energy as it falls. When the ball hits the ground, the kinetic energy is converted back into potential energy as it bounces back up. This back-and-forth conversion of energy allows the ball to continue bouncing, but the total amount of energy remains the same.

What factors affect the conservation of energy in a bouncing ball?

The factors that affect the conservation of energy in a bouncing ball include the height from which the ball is dropped, the composition and elasticity of the ball, and the surface on which the ball bounces. These factors can influence the amount of potential and kinetic energy present in the ball, and therefore affect how high the ball will bounce.

How does gravity play a role in the conservation of energy for bouncing balls?

Gravity is a fundamental force that plays a crucial role in the conservation of energy for bouncing balls. As the ball falls towards the ground, gravity accelerates it and increases its kinetic energy. When the ball bounces back up, gravity then slows it down and converts the kinetic energy back into potential energy. Without the force of gravity, the ball would not be able to bounce and the conservation of energy principle would not apply.

Is the conservation of energy principle always true for bouncing balls?

The conservation of energy principle is a fundamental law of physics and applies to all systems, including bouncing balls. However, in real-world situations, there may be some energy loss due to factors such as air resistance and friction. These factors may cause the ball to bounce slightly lower each time, resulting in a decrease in the total amount of energy over time. Nevertheless, the principle still holds true and the total amount of energy is conserved within the system.

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