Energy of a Bouncing Ball Lab
Integrated Science
Date:
Names:
During this lab investigation, you will investigate energy transformations between kinetic
energy, gravitational potential energy, and elastic potential energy.
Follow procedures on page 134 of your Glencoe science book. Note the following
changes:
a. You will use the data tables below / on back to collect your data.
b. You will use two different drop heights for each ball (1 meter and 2 meters)
Type of Ball: ____________________
Mass of Ball: ____________________
Data Table
1st Surface
2nd Surface
Trial
1
Drop Height
(m)
1 meter
2
1 meter
3
1 meter
1
2 meters
2
2 meters
3
2 meters
Trial #
1
Drop Height
(m)
1 meter
2
1 meter
3
1 meter
1
2 meters
2
2 meters
3
2 meters
Bounce Height (m)
Bounce Height (m)
Type of Ball (#2): ____________________
Data Table #2
1st Surface
2nd Surface
Trial
Mass of Ball: ____________________
1
Drop Height
(m)
1 meter
2
1 meter
3
1 meter
1
2 meters
2
2 meters
3
2 meters
Trial #
1
Drop Height
(m)
1 meter
2
1 meter
3
1 meter
1
2 meters
2
2 meters
3
2 meters
Bounce Height (m)
Bounce Height (m)
Also answer the following post lab questions on a separate sheet of paper:
1. Which ball should have the most kinetic energy just before it strikes the surface?
Explain why?
2. Which ball should have the most gravitational potential energy? Explain why? Where
would it have the most potential energy?
3. Which ball should have the most elastic potential energy when it strikes the surface?
Explain why.
4. Explain why a bouncing ball will stop bouncing on it own. Explain what happens to all
the kinetic and potential energies that the ball possessed?
5. Draw a diagram showing a ball dropping from your hand to the floor and bouncing up
again to where you would catch it. Label the following: position with maximum
gravitational potential energy, position with maximum elastic potential energy, position
with maximum kinetic energy, position with ½ kinetic energy and ½ gravitational
potential energy.
6. Explain why you labeled your drawing as you did.
7. Draw a bar graph to display your data (all trials) for dropping the balls on the floor.
(There will be twelve bars on this graph)
8. Draw a bar graph to display your data (all trials) for dropping the balls on the alternate
surface you have chosen. (There will be twelve bars on this graph)