Answer to Question #262639 in Physics for Melia

Question

State a hypothesis that would explain why a tennis ball, racquetball, ping pong ball, and golf ball bounced different heights when starting at one meter.

Answer 1

They have different mechanical properties. The ball with the higher modulus of elasticity bounces higher because less potential energy of falling is converted to internal energy.

The ball with smaller modulus of elasticity bounces lower because a significant part of its potential energy is converted into internal energy so less energy is left to lift the ball in the air.