How much height does a bouncing ball lose after its first bounce?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the factors influencing the height a ball reaches after its first bounce when dropped from a height of 100 meters. Participants explore various aspects such as material properties, surface characteristics, and external conditions affecting bounce height, with a focus on practical applications for game design.

Discussion Character

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

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that the bounce height depends on the material of the ball and the surface it impacts.
  • Others mention that aerodynamic drag also plays a role in determining the bounce height.
  • One participant questions the assumption that the ball will bounce at all, given the lack of specific information.
  • It is suggested that the bounce height could range from zero to nearly the original height, depending on various factors.
  • A theoretical scenario is presented where a perfectly elastic ball on a solid surface in a vacuum would bounce indefinitely to the same height, but this is acknowledged as unrealistic.
  • Participants provide estimates for bounce heights of different types of balls on concrete, suggesting values like 50-60m for a golf ball and 10-20m for a volleyball.
  • One participant shares specific bounce height requirements for official tennis balls, indicating they must bounce between 53-58 inches when dropped from 100 inches.
  • A later reply emphasizes that subsequent bounces will lose a consistent proportion of height, illustrating a decay pattern in bounce heights.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that multiple factors influence bounce height, but there is no consensus on specific values or conditions that apply universally. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact height a ball will reach after its first bounce.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of specific material and surface definitions, as well as the dependence on idealized versus real-world conditions. The discussion does not resolve the mathematical or physical assumptions involved in estimating bounce heights.

petwoip
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On earth, if I drop a ball from a building height 100m, what will be the maximum height of the ball after its first bounce? Note: This is not a homework question, I am trying to design a game and I want it to be as accurate as possible.
 
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Depends on the material of the ball and the surface you're dropping it on.
 
Also depends on aerodynamic drag.
 
Given the information you have provided(none) who is to say that the ball will even bounce?
 
Nabeshin said:
Depends on the material of the ball and the surface you're dropping it on.
Just to provide the true range - the answer could literally be anything between zero and 99+m.
 
If the ball has perfect elasticity (theoretical), the ground is perfectly solid, and there is no atmosphere, it will bounce forever back to the same height, correct me if I am wrong.

In reality of course these conditions can never occur and the answer depends on the degree of the above-mentioned factors.
 
Consider what you know of real world materials and interaction, because I did a brief search attempting to find a table (similar to friction tables?) of relative elasticity values but didn't find anything.

If it's something like a golf ball on concrete, maybe give it 50-60m?
A solid, rubber ball (lacrosse) maybe 70 or so?
A volleyball, maybe 10-20m?

As long as you have a general idea of what the two surfaces are, you should be able to come up with a reasonable estimate that won't look too outrageous. Just test it out and see if it looks normal to you. Humans have a pretty good ability to recognize when something "shouldn't be happening".
 
For official tennis balls dropped form 100" they must bounce between 53-58"

I once built a computer vision rig to allow a company to check them.
They take samples from the production line for normal bals, but those for competitions are all checked individually.
 
Thanks for all the messages. I never realized all the different factors that could affect bounce height. I think I'll stick with the tennis ball - style bounce, because that would look the best.
 
  • #10
Remember that on subseqent bounces the ball losses the same proportion of it's height. So if a tennis ball bounces form 100" back to 50" on the first bounce (50%) it will bounce to 25" on the next, 12.5" on the next and so on.
 

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