On the bounce

Investigating how high a ball bounces on different surfaces

Be careful where you carry out this investigation.

PLAN

Bounce a ball on different surfaces and measure how high it bounces.

Why might it be necessary to repeat the bouncing several times on each surface?

I WILL NEED

A ball.

Various surfaces (e.g.: concrete floor or paving slab; sheet of wood; sheet of metal; piece of carpet; polystyrene tile, bubble-wrap, corrugated cardboard; etc.)

Metre rule (or similar measuring device).

Pencil & paper.

GOOD IDEA - You could video each

bounce and judge the height in slow-motion.

FAIR TEST

How will you ensure that the ball is thrown down with the same force every time?

PREDICTION

Can you predict on which surfaces the ball will bounce highest?

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY

What did you do?

What did you observe?

Did you encounter any problems?

How did you overcome these?

COLLECT

DATA

How will you judge how high the ball bounces?

ANALYSE

DATA

You could arrange the different surfaces in order.  What do you notice?

PRESENT

FINDINGS

You could produce a bar chart to show your findings.

Is it possible to video part of the investigation?

EVALUATE

INVESTIGATION

How could you improve the accuracy of your measuring?

If you have carried out this investigation, click the icon to send in your results to Brainboxx and we may publish your work on the website.  It is best to e-mail the results of your investigation or you may need to send them by post.  Make sure you get permission from a teacher, parent or other adult before you get in touch.

Detailed explanation