The coefficient of restitution (COR) of a ball is independent of the height from which it is dropped due to the principles of energy conservation and the nature of elastic collisions. As the ball falls, it accelerates until it reaches terminal velocity, at which point the speed of impact remains constant regardless of the drop height. This phenomenon occurs because, beyond a certain height, the energy lost to deformation during the collision becomes negligible, leading to a consistent COR value across various heights.
PREREQUISITESPhysics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of collisions and the behavior of falling objects.