Can you stop rubber from bouncing?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenge of stopping a rubber ball from bouncing as part of a school experiment on material absorption. Participants explore various materials and methods that could potentially absorb the ball's kinetic energy upon impact, considering constraints such as thickness and cost.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the material needs to have an ideal compressibility to effectively absorb the ball's energy without allowing it to bounce back.
  • Ideas for materials include soft elastomers with high damping factors, heavy fabrics, air bags, and various gels.
  • There is a proposal to use a composite material, such as layers of hessian or muslin with wallpaper paste, to improve energy absorption.
  • Some participants question whether the ball needs to be reusable after impact, suggesting extreme options like a bed of barbed nails.
  • Concerns are raised about the requirement of the material being no thicker than one inch, which may limit effectiveness.
  • Suggestions include using crushable materials like Styrofoam or layers of cardboard to absorb kinetic energy.
  • Some participants propose saturating foam rubber with a viscous liquid to enhance its energy absorption properties.
  • There are discussions about the potential use of heavy wool blankets or even unconventional materials like molten tar or modeling clay.
  • Several participants emphasize the need for the material to absorb kinetic energy without pushing the ball back, highlighting the complexity of the challenge.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of ideas and suggestions, but there is no consensus on a single effective solution. The discussion remains unresolved, with multiple competing views on the best approach to stop the ball from bouncing.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the limitations imposed by the thickness requirement and the need for the material to effectively absorb energy without rebounding the ball. The challenge is acknowledged as complex due to the size of the ball relative to the permitted material thickness.

Kraig
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Is there anyway to stop rubber from bouncing? My class is doing an experiment on material absorption. I have been given the task to stop a rubber ball from bouncing. I was given a rubber ball that weighs 5 and a half ounces and has a circumference of 8 in. My material can't be over an inch thick. I have tried different types of foam and PVCs, no such luck. The challenge is we have to mount the material to the wall and then throw the ball as hard as we can at the material. Suggestions? Keep in mind I'm in school and don't have lots of money to spend
 
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Too soft and the ball just compresses it before bouncing off the compressed material, too hard and the ball will bounce off the original surface. There should be some ideal compressibility in between.

A liquid is not possible, I guess?
 
No liquid. Perhaps a gel of some sort? But what to put the gel into that could withstand such an ampact?
 
Kraig said:
Is there anyway to stop rubber from bouncing? My class is doing an experiment on material absorption. I have been given the task to stop a rubber ball from bouncing. I was given a rubber ball that weighs 5 and a half ounces and has a circumference of 8 in. My material can't be over an inch thick. I have tried different types of foam and PVCs, no such luck. The challenge is we have to mount the material to the wall and then throw the ball as hard as we can at the material. Suggestions? Keep in mind I'm in school and don't have lots of money to spend
Fly paper attached to rubber bands?
 
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Some ideas:
1) A soft elastomer that has a high damping factor, such as Sorbothane: https://www.sorbothane.com/material-properties.aspx
2) Something that absorbs energy without bouncing the ball back, such as a big water balloon.
3) Another way to absorb energy is hang a large piece of heavy fabric, such as a tarp or canvas, a couple inches in front of the wall.
4) You could also try hanging a piece of cardboard a couple inches in front of the wall.
5) Some sort of air bag. It will need a properly sized vent hole - too small and the ball will bounce, too large and the ball will hit the wall. You should be able to make something from a garbage bag and duct tape. Or packaging tape.
6) A bag of Jello?
7) A plastic solid applied to the wall in a thick layer. Peanut butter? Roofing tar? The layer would need to be over an inch thick.
8) Put the plastic solid in a bag. Less mess, and peanut butter would still be good to eat afterward.

It's a great project. Have fun.
 
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How about a few layers of hessian or muslin, supporting an appropriate wet mix of wallpaper paste?
A composite of some sort will perform better than a homgenous substance.
 
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Does the ball have to be re-usable after the impact? A bed of barbed nails could be fun.
 
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How does that idea go with the dreaded 'sustainability'? :wink:
 
Kraig said:
Is there anyway to stop rubber from bouncing? My class is doing an experiment on material absorption. I have been given the task to stop a rubber ball from bouncing. I was given a rubber ball that weighs 5 and a half ounces and has a circumference of 8 in. My material can't be over an inch thick. I have tried different types of foam and PVCs, no such luck. The challenge is we have to mount the material to the wall and then throw the ball as hard as we can at the material. Suggestions? Keep in mind I'm in school and don't have lots of money to spend

jrmichler said:
Some ideas:
1) A soft elastomer that has a high damping factor, such as Sorbothane: https://www.sorbothane.com/material-properties.aspx
2) Something that absorbs energy without bouncing the ball back, such as a big water balloon.
3) Another way to absorb energy is hang a large piece of heavy fabric, such as a tarp or canvas, a couple inches in front of the wall.
4) You could also try hanging a piece of cardboard a couple inches in front of the wall.
5) Some sort of air bag. It will need a properly sized vent hole - too small and the ball will bounce, too large and the ball will hit the wall. You should be able to make something from a garbage bag and duct tape. Or packaging tape.
Good suggestions in general but they don't meet the requirement stated so not good for this problem.
 
  • #10
Does it have to be fully stopped, or is it acceptable just to substantially reduce the rebound? Are. you allowed to cover both the ball and the wall with velcro?
 
  • #11
phinds said:
the requirement stated
That requirement is very tough because the ball it big compared with the permitted thickness of the layer. The material of the layer has to be adhesive because there will be significant potential energy stored by the distortion of the ball during the impact. How ever much energy is absorbed by a 'high loss' material, the ball will still bounce off the wall unless it is actually stuck.
 
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  • #12
sophiecentaur said:
That requirement is very tough because the ball it big compared with the permitted thickness of the layer.
I certainly do agree w/ that.
 
  • #13
I guess the challenge is a good one because no one is likely to stop the bounce completely; there will be a whole range of results.

How about molten tar on the wall?
 
  • #14
mfb said:
Too soft and the ball just compresses it before bouncing off the compressed material, too hard and the ball will bounce off the original surface. There should be some ideal compressibility in between.

A liquid is not possible, I guess?
Professional Mini Golfers have several dozens of different balls ranging through all varieties of possibilities of friction, elasticity etc.
 
  • #15
I think the best bet under the circumstances would be a heavy wool blanket hung 1" from the wall and extending several feet both up and down from where the ball is to hit. Even with having only 1" in which to move back at the point of impact, the weight of the blanket as it deforms to the point of impact would slow the ball considerably
 
  • #16
phinds said:
I think the best bet under the circumstances would be a heavy wool blanket hung 1" from the wall and extending several feet both up and down from where the ball is to hit. Even with having only 1" in which to move back at the point of impact, the weight of the blanket as it deforms to the point of impact would slow the ball considerably
I have seen balls made of rubber which stuck on the ground the moment they hit it.
 
  • #17
fresh_42 said:
I have seen balls made of rubber which stuck on the ground the moment they hit it.
Yeah, but that would be a particular KIND of ball, not likely the one he has to deal with. If it WERE the kind he has to deal with there wouldn't even be any problem so I don't see how that's helpful to this thread. Putting some heavy lead shot inside the ball would likely work too since that would make it act like a dead-blow hammer, but again, not the kind of ball this problem is about.
 
  • #18
sophiecentaur said:
How about molten tar on the wall?

How about a depolymerizing agent on the wall instead? :wideeyed:
 
  • #19
Whatever you put on the wall needs to absorb the kinetic energy of the ball, then not push the ball back.

Some more ideas:
1) Crush something. Try Styrofoam or several layers of cardboard. Crushing is a good way to absorb kinetic energy in a small distance.
2) Most foam rubber is too soft by itself. It will compress, then the ball will bounce off the wall. You could saturate the foam rubber with a liquid. Start with water. If that's too thin, then a liquid that is more viscous. Corn syrup is a cheap viscous liquid, and you can adjust the viscosity by diluting with water. And cleanup is easy.

Test as many different things as you can. The more things you test, the more you will learn. And have fun.
 
  • #20
Sand in a bag. And as @jbriggs444 said, maybe cover it with fly paper.
Modeling clay. Again, maybe cover it with fly paper.
Possibly a plastic bag filled with wet cornstarch. Change the water content to adjust the way it behaves. Once more perhaps with flypaper.
Wet clay (as from the ground) in a plastic bag. It may or may not be easily available where you are.
Several layers of bubble wrap packing material
Wood shavings as used for packing material. (Known as excelsior.)
phinds said:
a heavy wool blanket hung 1" from the wall
The blanket with fly paper could be the best approach yet.

A mix of any or all of the suggestions.

Please let us know what you find and how the experiment works out!

Cheers,
Tom
 

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