Squash Ball Experiment
Title: Testing effects of temperature on the bounce of a ball.
Aim: To see how changing the temperature of a ball affects the bounce of a squash
ball.
Hypothesis: I think that the higher the temperature, the higher the bounce of the ball.
This is because when the temperature is high, the particles get more kinetic energy
and are a lot more active. I think that this will give the ball a higher bounce.
Variables:
Controlled: The height from which the ball is bounced, the size of the ball
Dependant: The height, direction and speed of the ball when it bounces
Independent: The temperature of the ball
Apparatus:
Squash ball
Bunsen burner
Thermometer
Beaker
Gauze mat
Tripod
Water
Meter ruler stick
Tongs
Goggles
Matches
Method:
1.
2.
3.
4.
First, get all of your apparatus
Then you record the temperature
Record the temperature in your table
Bounce the ball alongside a wall so you can see how high it bounces using
your ruler
5. Write down your result
6. Do this at least two times to be more accurate with your results
7. Heat the water ten degrees higher with the squash ball in it
8. When the water is 10 degrees higher, take out the ball using the tongs so you
don’t get burnt
9. Then take it out and repeat the experiment
10. Repeat this experiment, heating the water and putting in the ball until you get
around 5 temperatures and/or the ball stops heating up
11. Repeat this experiment over again if you have more time so that your results
can be more accurate,
Results:
Test Number
Temperature (ºC)
Height of the Bounce (cm)
1
1a
2
2a
3
3a
4
4a
5
5a
24
24
34
34
44
44
54
54
64
64
14.5
15
17
19.5
25
23.5
30
30
32
37
S quas h B all E xperiment
40
Height of Bounce
35
30
25
S e rie s 1
20
L in e a r (S e rie s 1 )
15
10
5
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Degrees(°C)
Data Analysis:
The data shows me that the higher the temperature of the ball, the higher the bounce.
This means that the particles are a lot more active in the squash ball as their
temperature is raised. The graph above shows you that there were a few inaccurate
results, but most followed the trendline.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, my hypothesis was correct; the hotter the ball, the higher the bounce. It
also proves that my views about the particles becoming more active when temperature
is higher.
Evaluation:
Our experiment was very interesting. We had a method and we started following it,
but Mr. Hawkins came over and told us a few things we were doing wrong. We had to
start with the ball in the water instead of bouncing it straight away so that the ball
temperature was the same as the temperature of the water. Instead of bouncing it, we
had to drop it down so that the pressure exerted was always the same. Our results
were not all accurate because of the fact that when the ball was bounced, the person
looking for how high the ball goes doesn’t get a completely accurate result. We also
had to do it twice, so the ball may cool down a little in between each bounce. We tried
doing the experiment over again, but the ball was heated too much already and the
results were totally different so we had to stop and just go with our original results. I
think that next time we could bounce the ball more than twice each time we do the
experiment so our results are more accurate. These results also made me change a few
things in my method. A new method is shown below with the corrections. Next time,
following the new method will make the results a lot more accurate.
New Method:
1.
2.
3.
4.
First, get all of your apparatus
Then you get a beaker and record the temperature of the water
Put the ball in the beaker for 20 seconds
Get the ball out of the water using tongs so your body heat doesn’t change its
temperature
5. Drop the ball from a position and measure the height of the bounce
6. Do this alongside the wall with the ruler against the wall so you have a better
idea of how high it goes
7. Write down your result
8. Do this at least three times to be more accurate with your results
9. Heat the water around ten degrees with the squash ball in it
10. When the water is 10 degrees higher, take out the ball using the tongs so you
don’t get burnt
11. Then take it out and repeat the experiment
12. Repeat this experiment, heating the water and putting in the ball until you get
around 5 temperatures and/or the ball stops heating up
13. Do not repeat this experiment because if you do your results will be wrong