Can Changing Mass and Design Improve Ball Aerodynamics?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around an investigation into the relationship between the mass of soccer balls and the rebound height achieved when they fall from a fixed height. The original poster expresses confusion regarding their experimental setup and the impact of added mass on the results, particularly concerning errors and the influence of tape and spin on rebound height.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss potential errors in the experimental design, including the effects of crudely attached weights and tape on the balls' performance. Questions are raised about the relationship between mass arrangement and rebound height, as well as the role of spin in the rebound dynamics.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with participants offering suggestions for refining the experimental design and questioning the original poster's data interpretation. Some guidance has been provided regarding the need to analyze data trends and consider alternative ball types for the experiment.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions the use of tape and weights in a crude manner, which raises concerns about the accuracy of their measurements. There is also an implication of imposed homework constraints, as the investigation is part of an IB extended essay.

GreenSabbath
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Im stuck with an IB extended essay I don't understand at all. :mad: I am investigating the relationship between the mass of two soccer balls and the rebound height the top ball reaches when both balls fall from a fixed height. My way of adding mass to the balls is pretty crude, some tape and some weights. What kind of errors am i looking at ?
Im also noticing a very uneven relationship between restitution and the mass added. Does arrangement of the added masses have anything at all to do with the rebound height?
Does sticking tape alter the balls compression? Can it alter spin ?
How does spin affect the rebound height?
Please do try answering some of my questions! Ill be really grateful.
 
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I am investigating the relationship between the mass of two soccer balls and the rebound height the top ball reaches when both balls fall from a fixed height.

Do the experiment and find out.
 
I've already done the experiment ...
My Hypothesis and experimental data don't match
I was looking for some potential errors that's all .. and I am sure the crudely attached weights affected my readings a lot? But how?
 
Did you plot the data and look for any trends? Did you run a control to compare against? Don't match by how much?.

You should spend more time looking over what the data is telling you.
 
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The tape and the weights could affect the restitution. Couldn't you use different balls, like a basketball and a soccer ball?

Are you measuring the peak height of both balls after the bounce? The top ball will bounce the highest when the bottom ball never leaves the ground.
 
to reduce the "crudeness" of your design and the aerodynamic problems that pose when attatching heavier weights on this ball.

i suggest you do your experiment again but using a basket-ball size ball so you can put things into it. then secure them to the bottom. then launch. this wouldent change the air resistnace or shape of your "ball" because all the weights are on this inside.

im no physicist but i think it would work.
 

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