BOUNCING BALL MINI-LAB
NAME: ______________________________
TITLE OF MINI-LAB: ________________________________________________________________
PURPOSE OF LAB: _________________________________________________________________
DATA:
TYPE OF BALL:
SURFACE
TENNIS
FLOOR
TENNIS
FLOOR
TENNIS
FLOOR
LACROSSE
FLOOR
LACROSSE
FLOOR
LACROSSE
FLOOR
TENNIS
CARDBOARD
TENNIS
CARDBOARD
TENNIS
CARDBOARD
LACROSSE
CARDBOARD
LACROSSE
CARDBOARD
LACROSSE
CARDBOARD
TRIAL
HEIGHT (cm)
AVERAGE HEIGHT (cm)
MINI-LAB QUESTIONS:
1) Calculate the gravitational potential energy of each ball before dropping it
2) Calculate the average bounce height for the three trials under each condition
3) Compare the bounce heights of the balls dropped on a cardboard box with the bounce
heights of the balls dropped on the floor. Hint: Did you observe any movement of the box
when the balls bounced? _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
4) Explain why the balls bounced to different heights, using the concept of elastic potential
energy. ____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5) According to the Law of Conservation of Energy, the Kinetic Energy at the end of the drop is
equal to the Gravitational Potential Energy at the beginning of the drop.
KE (end) = PE (beginning)
Below, list the Kinetic Energy that each ball has as it hits the floor.
 TENNIS BALL KE = ______________________________________
 LACROSSE BALL KE = _________________________________________
EXTRA CREDIT: Calculate the velocity that each ball had as it hit the floor.
KE = ½mv2
6) Starting with GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL ENERGY, list, in order, the Energy Conversions
that took place once the ball was dropped. Be sure to include the energy conversions that
show WHY the ball bounces lower and lower with each consecutive bounce.
GPE turns into ____________________________ which turns into __________________________
and ______________________________ and ________________________________ which turns
into ______________________________ and back to GPE.