Is a Bouncing Ball an Example of an Elastic Collision?

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A bouncing ball is often cited as an example of an elastic collision, particularly when considering rubber balls. However, in reality, no large-scale objects experience perfectly elastic collisions due to energy loss in forms like heat. Billiard balls are another example that closely approximates elastic behavior. While these examples demonstrate nearly elastic collisions, they are not perfect. Understanding these nuances is essential for accurately discussing elastic collisions in physics.
Oliviam12
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Homework Statement


What is an example of an elastic equation on earth?


Homework Equations


N/A


The Attempt at a Solution



Is a ball bouncing on the ground a good example of an elastic collision? (If it is)
 
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A bouncing (rubber) ball would be a good example. Maybe even better would be a collision between two hard spheres, like billiard balls. Remember, in the real world, there is no such thing as a perfectly elastic collision between two large-scale objects (some of the kinetic energy is always transformed into other forms of energy like heat), but those two cases are nearly elastic, and that's as good as you're going to get.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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