Measuring Elasticity of Balls using Collision Method

[camperstrike]

This is quite tricky..

How to measure the elasticity of balls using a collision method?

apparatus:
air track
blower
gliders
motion sensors (2 sets)
2 tennis balls

How do i do this?

 

[dynamicsolo]

This is quite tricky..

How to measure the elasticity of balls using a collision method?

apparatus:
air track
blower
gliders
motion sensors (2 sets)
2 tennis balls

How do i do this?

If you're trying to set up an experiment, you should start by listing the quantities you are trying to find and the ones you are able to measure. What is the definition of elasticity?

 

[ogb p]

To measure the elasticity of balls using a collision method, you will need an air track, a blower, gliders, motion sensors, and two tennis balls. The air track and blower will provide a smooth surface and constant air resistance for the balls to move on. The gliders will act as the colliding objects, while the motion sensors will track the movement and velocity of the balls before and after the collision.

To begin, set up the air track and turn on the blower to create a smooth surface for the balls to roll on. Place the motion sensors at either end of the track, facing each other. Make sure they are properly calibrated and connected to a data collection system.

Next, place one of the tennis balls on the track and release it from a specific height, making sure it rolls straight towards the motion sensor. The motion sensor will record the initial velocity of the ball. As the ball reaches the second motion sensor, it will collide with the glider, which will be moving towards it from the opposite direction. The motion sensor will record the velocity of the ball after the collision.

Repeat this process several times, using different initial heights and velocities for the ball. Make sure to switch the glider between collisions to minimize any bias. This will provide a range of data points to analyze.

Using the data collected, you can calculate the coefficient of restitution (COR) of the ball, which is a measure of its elasticity. The COR is calculated by dividing the velocity of the ball after the collision by the velocity of the ball before the collision. A higher COR indicates a more elastic ball, while a lower COR indicates a less elastic ball.

By repeating this experiment with the second tennis ball, you can compare the CORs of the two balls and determine which one is more elastic.

In summary, measuring the elasticity of balls using a collision method involves setting up an air track and motion sensors, releasing the ball from a specific height, and recording the velocities before and after the collision. This data can be used to calculate the coefficient of restitution and compare the elasticity of different balls.