How Close Can to Perfection can a Bouncy Ball get?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential for improving the bounceback ratio of bouncy balls, specifically exploring how close it can get to 100% with current technology. Participants consider various materials and designs, including the use of super-compressed rubber and advanced materials like nitinol and LiquidMetal.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that the best current bounceback ratio for a bouncy ball is around 90%, questioning the feasibility of achieving higher ratios.
  • Another participant suggests that a bouncy ball made with a core of super-compressed rubber and LiquidMetal could enhance bounce performance.
  • It is mentioned that the hardness of both the ball and the surface contributes to achieving higher bounceback ratios, with energy loss due to deformation and air resistance being factors.
  • One participant speculates that if there were a significant demand for higher bounceback ratios, improvements could be made beyond 90%.
  • A suggestion is made that using a solid nitinol ball bouncing on a solid nitinol surface might yield better results due to nitinol's super-elastic properties.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the potential for improving bounceback ratios, with some suggesting that advancements could be made while others acknowledge the limitations imposed by material properties and energy loss. No consensus is reached on the best approach or the maximum achievable bounceback ratio.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the specific limitations of materials or the exact mechanisms of energy loss during bounces, leaving these aspects open for further exploration.

duckplus
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First post here. Hello!

I am wondering how close a bouncy ball's bounceback ration can get to 100% with our current technology. I have a B-16 bouncy ball (the best I can find on the internet) that has a 90% bounceback. It would be great to see something even better.

On a related note, I saw a video where steel balls were bounced on three different ball bearings. One was titanium, one was steel, and one was "LiquidMetal." The steel ball bounced on the LiquidMetal 3 times longer than than the other surfaces. Would a bouncy ball made out of super-compressed rubber with this material as its core make the ball extremely bouncy?

Thank you.
 
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Welcome to PF!

Is this for a homework assignment?

If so you need to follow the PF template and read up on forum rules. We can't give you answers only hints but only after you show us some work.
 
No, this is out of curiosity.
 
so basically the harder and more solid the surface and the harder the ball the closer to 100% you'll get but 90% sounds pretty good.

I don't know what the best rebound rate you can ever get as some energy is dissipated on each bounce due to deformation of the ball and surface which converts the KE to heat and very minimally by air resistance.

and some info on the super-ball of yesteryear (ie when I was a kid):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Ball
 
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I feel like we can get a bit better than 90% if there was actually a major demand. Alas, there is not. However, do you think there is much room for improvement possible?
 
Maybe a solid ball of nitinol would work better - bouncing on a solid nitinol surface? This material is known to be "super elastic". One must do som pretty good work for that material to be permanently deformed (Which will cause loss). Just a thought.

Vidar
 

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