Ball Bounce Experiment

Enhance your states of matter lessons with a hands-on science investigation that compares six different balls' color, texture, size, weight, ability to bounce, and buoyancy. 

Students use the scientific method to conduct an experiment to test how a ball bounces. In this inquiry-based physical science and scientific method lesson, students drop a ball from specified heights and record the rebound, then record...

Upper elementary scientists test basketballs with differing amounts of air to find if inflation affects bounce height. The instructional activity introduction poses the question of whether or not the composition of a ball determines...

A well-developed lab sheet guides physical science learners through an investigation of kinetic and potential energy. In small groups, collaborators discover whether or not the ramp height or mass of an object has an effect on the...

Third graders compare the bouncing height of different types of balls. In this science instructional activity, 3rd graders explain the importance of repeated experimentation in science. They record their result and share them with the...

Steve Spangler plays a sneaky trick on Mark by giving him a rubber ball that doesn't bounce! Video viewers learn that different types of rubber have different properties. Show this in your physical science unit when teaching the...

In this video segment, the ZOOM cast is challenged to keep a ping pong ball in a funnel while the funnel is held upside down, seemingly defying gravity. [4:34]

Students investigate potential energy. In this potential energy lesson, students do an experiment with a bouncing ball. Students mark how high the ball bounces when it is dropped and record their results. Students discuss...

Students explore the concept of gravity. For this gravity lesson, students drop super balls from varying heights. Students record the height of the super ball on bounce zero and bounce one.

Many of today's popular sports are based around the use of a ball, yet none are completely alike. In fact they are all designed with specific characteristics in mind. Students will investigate different balls' abilities to bounce and...