Objectives:
1. The Physics Standards that relate to this problem are:
d.
Students know
that when one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object always exerts a force of equal magnitude and in the opposite direction (Newton's third law).
e.
Students know the relationship between the universal law of gravitation and the effect of gravity on an object at the surface of Earth.
f.
Students know applying a force to an object perpendicular to the direction of its motion causes the object to change direction but not speed (e.g., Earth's gravitational force causes a satellite in a circular orbit to change direction but not speed).
h. *
Students know Newton's laws are not exact but provide very good approximations unless an object is moving close to the speed of light or is small enough that quantum effects are important.
Why does letting a small ball drop on top
of a larger ball make such a dramatic difference in bounce?
When a small ball
is dropped on a larger ball, the smaller ball bounces dramatically higher than as
the ball being dropped normally. This is the case because when both balls are
dropped, the momentum of the larger ball is transferred to the smaller ball
hence the increase of height. In addition, the smaller ball bounced higher
because the force point caused it to go the opposite direction with the same
magnitude at contact, resulting in the fast impact. With the help of inertia
the objects stayed at rest and after the demonstration, the balls slowly return
to the state of rest. The amount of force placed on the balls depends on how
much mass and weight is in them. A bigger ball with more mass will make the
smaller ball bounce higher than a small ball of the same weight with different
mass. The one with more mass will work better with height reach because with
more mass, the more force the ball will act on it.
Lab: Get balls with different masses and
weight and compare the distance of the ball that goes up
