What Counts in Bounce

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In this activity learners compare the bounciness of warm and cold racquetballs to see if temperature makes a difference in how well they bounce. Use this activity to introduce polymers and characteristics of matter, specifically rubber.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per student
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
Language:
English, Spanish

Materials List (per student)

  • masking tape
  • permanent marking pen
  • 3 plastic containers big enough to hold a racquetball
  • ice
  • water
  • hot tap water
  • 3 racquetballs
  • timer
  • tongs
  • measuring tape or yard stick

Keywords

Subjects

  • Physical Sciences
    • Heat and Thermodynamics
      • Heat and Temperature
      • Thermodynamics and Entropy
    • Energy
      • Potential and Kinetic Energy
    • Chemistry
      • Chemical Bonding
    • Motion and Forces
      • Gravity
      • Momentum and Velocity
    • States of Matter
      • Solids
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
      • Atomic Structure
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Conducting Investigations
      • Gathering Data
      • Formulating Explanations
      • Communicating Results

Informal Categories

  • Sports and Exercise
  • Toys

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • read
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Foreign language versions of this resource:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • Department of Volunteer Support, American Chemical Society

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, American Chemical Society, 2011