RE: A question my son asked: Can every ball bounce?
May 13, 2012 at 1:31 pm
(This post was last modified: May 13, 2012 at 1:32 pm by libalchris.)
Depends on the ball you're referring to, as well as how precise you want "bounce" to mean. Basically you have 2 types of collisions, elastic and inelastic. The only case where the ball will not bounce is a perfectly inelastic collision. In that case all the energy of the ball is absorbed and the objects "stick" together. Think of dropping a hacky sack on the ground, it won't bounce because all the energy is absorbed.
So basically, no, not every ball bounces. If the ball and surface are such that they make a perfectly inelastic collision, then there will be no bounce. As long as there is some elasticity however, there will be some bounce. (Now as Tobie pointed out, no collision is perfectly inelastic, but some are so close that for all practical purposes the ball doesn't bounce.)
So basically, no, not every ball bounces. If the ball and surface are such that they make a perfectly inelastic collision, then there will be no bounce. As long as there is some elasticity however, there will be some bounce. (Now as Tobie pointed out, no collision is perfectly inelastic, but some are so close that for all practical purposes the ball doesn't bounce.)
