Bounce, B-B-B-Bounce!
Beautifully crafted by:
CASSIE LINDGREN
How does the flooring surface affect
the height, in inches, of a basketball?
Variables
Manipulated: Type of flooring surface
Cement
Vinyl
Hardwood
Responding: The height of the bounce of the ball
In inches
Controlled:
Same air pressure in the basketball (10 psi)
Same starting height (48in)
Same climate (no rain, no wind)
Hypothesis
If you bounce a basketball on 3 different flooring types, then
the ball will bounce the highest on a hardwood floor because
this is the type of flooring that basketball players play on so it
must give off the best bounce.
Materials
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
3 Basketballs
Pressure Gage Pump
Vinyl Sports Flooring
Hardwood Gym Floor
Cement
Tape Measure
Strapping Tape
Wooden Plank
Flat Scrap of Wood
Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Label each ball 1, 2, and 3.
Using the pressure gage, make sure all the basketballs are pumped up
to 10 psi.
At a gym with Vinyl flooring, tape the measuring tape to the board
and hold the scrap on top.
Hold the ball at 4 ft, with top of ball against bottom of scrap to
maintain consistent drop height.
Drop the ball, using no force.
Record how high the basketball bounced on its first bounce.
Repeat 2 more times for a total of 3 trials.
Repeat again with balls numbers 2 and 3.
Repeat steps 1-6 on a Hardwood floor and on a Cement floor.
Data
Floor
Trial 1 (inches)
Trial 2 (inches)
Trial 3 (inches)
Average (in)
Basketballs:
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
Cement
31.5
31.5
29
29
31.5
30.5
31
30
31.5
30.5
31
30.3
Vinyl
32
32
31
31
32.5
32
31.5
31.5
32
31.5
32
31.6
Hardwood
33
32
33
32.5
32.5
33.5
32.5
33
32.5
32.6
32.5
32.6
Overall Averages
Cement
30.6
Vinyl
31.7
Hardwood
32.56
Conclusion
After concluding this experiment, I learned my hypothesis
was correct; hardwood floors give off the highest bounce.
Cement bounced lower with an average of 30.6 inches while
hardwood’s bounce average was 32.56 inches. This is a
difference of 1.96 inches. Therefore, I learned that the
smoother the surface, the higher the bounce because of less
friction.