DISCUSSION
Explanation
Based on the experiment conducted, it is evident that the greater the release height of the tennis ball, the greater the rebound height of the tennis ball. There will be a greater gravitational potential energy when the tennis ball is released from a greater height, compared to the amount of gravitational potential energy a tennis ball has if it was released from a smaller height. Hence, the greater amount of gravitational potential energy the tennis ball has it it was released from a greater height, will get converted into a greater amount of elastic energy as the ball hits the surface of the seat of the wooden chair. This will then get converted into a greater amount of kinetic energy as the ball ascends up during its first bounce. Finally, the kinetic energy gets converted into gravitational potential energy that the tennis ball possesses as it stays in the air for a fraction of a second during its first bounce, which was being measure in this experiment. Since the starting magnitude of gravitational potential energy of the tennis ball when it is being released is higher when it is released from a greater height, a greater magnitude of energy is being converted into gravitational potential energy, that is the height of the first bounce, compared to when the tennis ball is released from a smaller height. Hence, the tennis ball will have a greater rebound height when it is being released from a greater height, in comparison to it being released from a smaller height.
Validity
The experiment correctly tests the aim and hypothesis. This is because all variables were identified and all factors, except those that were being investigated were kept constant. The experiment also aimed to test the original hypothesis proposed allowing for more valid results.
Reliability
The reliability off the experiment was of a high level due to the repetition of the steps, that allowed the average of the results to be obtained, so that the results are much more trust-worthy and clearly reliable. The reliability of the experiment was limited to the method which the bounce height was measured. Since the tennis ball reached its apex height on the rebound at a high speed, it was difficult to measure with adequate precision with sight alone. Parallax errors were difficult to avoid as the bounce height was slightly different for each trial. To improve the reliability of the results for this experiment, one could use high speed video captures which could be slowed down to measure accurately against the ruler in the background. The original drop height also varied to a degree due to the nature of releasing the tennis ball by hand. This drop height could be standardized by using a mechanical mechanism in which to drop the ball at consistent heights, such as rolling the ball down an elevated ramp onto the floor.
Limitations
One of the limitations was that there was less time for the rebound height to be observed and noted, due to the swift movement of the bounce of the ball. This made it especially difficult for the rebound height to be measured each time as it was required to be observed very quickly before the ball descended even a little bit. Another factor that was a limitation was human errors. The person performing the experiment undergoes slight nervousness and anxiety when performing the experiment, which is natural but acts as a hindrance. This contributes to the incorrect readings of the rebound heights noted by the person doing the experiment. Another limitation was the uncontrolled hand shake while performing the experiment. Normally, when the hand is suspended in the air, it is not stable in its movements. This is natural, but once again a hindrance to the experiment’s reliability and accuracy. Also, the rate and intensity of shaking of the hand can be worsened if too much caffeine is consumed before performing the experiment, that leads to the high intensity of incoordination of nerves and muscles in the body. This once again leads to incorrect readings of the rebound height, contributing to the inaccuracy and unreliability of this experiment.
Improvements
The accuracy could have been improved with the use of a digital camera, which could be used to find the exact height the ball bounced; this could be done by replaying the bounce. frame by frame. Also, The investigation should be done in a more controlled environment, as the temperature in each room in the house varies due to factors such as the number of windows in the room, that increases wind flow into the room. Also, the area of the space of the room can also affect the temperature of the room due to the fact that a larger room will mean that it takes a longer time for it to get warmer from the heat of the body expelled by the person performing the experiment, and vice-versa. Finally, a mechanical apparatus hat releases the tennis ball from the planned height can be used, to ensure that the height is accurate every time the experiment is being performed. Since a mechanical apparatus is more reliable than the hand of a person releasing the ball, this is a much better method, that will guarantee the accuracy of the results obtained in the experiment.
Link To Conservation Of Energy
The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, just transforms from one form to another. These forms can include kinetic and potential energy as well as light, heat and sound. Since energy cannot be created or destroyed, the amount of energy present in the universe is always the same. It is simply being transformed and transferred over and over again.
Judging by the fact that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it seems reasonable that the ball should continue bouncing forever. Observing a bouncing ball on Earth, however, shows that eventually the ball will slow down and stop bouncing. Where does the extra energy go? Most of the energy found in a bouncing ball is transformed into heat and sound due to friction. As the energy is transformed into heat and sound, it is not available to be transformed into gravitational potential energy, elastic potential energy or kinetic energy. Some of this friction takes place with the air, while some of it takes place with the ground.
The term efficiency can be used to describe how much energy is lost through friction. A more efficient process means that more energy is retained, while a less efficient process retains less energy.
Based on the experiment conducted, it is evident that the greater the release height of the tennis ball, the greater the rebound height of the tennis ball. There will be a greater gravitational potential energy when the tennis ball is released from a greater height, compared to the amount of gravitational potential energy a tennis ball has if it was released from a smaller height. Hence, the greater amount of gravitational potential energy the tennis ball has it it was released from a greater height, will get converted into a greater amount of elastic energy as the ball hits the surface of the seat of the wooden chair. This will then get converted into a greater amount of kinetic energy as the ball ascends up during its first bounce. Finally, the kinetic energy gets converted into gravitational potential energy that the tennis ball possesses as it stays in the air for a fraction of a second during its first bounce, which was being measure in this experiment. Since the starting magnitude of gravitational potential energy of the tennis ball when it is being released is higher when it is released from a greater height, a greater magnitude of energy is being converted into gravitational potential energy, that is the height of the first bounce, compared to when the tennis ball is released from a smaller height. Hence, the tennis ball will have a greater rebound height when it is being released from a greater height, in comparison to it being released from a smaller height.
Validity
The experiment correctly tests the aim and hypothesis. This is because all variables were identified and all factors, except those that were being investigated were kept constant. The experiment also aimed to test the original hypothesis proposed allowing for more valid results.
Reliability
The reliability off the experiment was of a high level due to the repetition of the steps, that allowed the average of the results to be obtained, so that the results are much more trust-worthy and clearly reliable. The reliability of the experiment was limited to the method which the bounce height was measured. Since the tennis ball reached its apex height on the rebound at a high speed, it was difficult to measure with adequate precision with sight alone. Parallax errors were difficult to avoid as the bounce height was slightly different for each trial. To improve the reliability of the results for this experiment, one could use high speed video captures which could be slowed down to measure accurately against the ruler in the background. The original drop height also varied to a degree due to the nature of releasing the tennis ball by hand. This drop height could be standardized by using a mechanical mechanism in which to drop the ball at consistent heights, such as rolling the ball down an elevated ramp onto the floor.
Limitations
One of the limitations was that there was less time for the rebound height to be observed and noted, due to the swift movement of the bounce of the ball. This made it especially difficult for the rebound height to be measured each time as it was required to be observed very quickly before the ball descended even a little bit. Another factor that was a limitation was human errors. The person performing the experiment undergoes slight nervousness and anxiety when performing the experiment, which is natural but acts as a hindrance. This contributes to the incorrect readings of the rebound heights noted by the person doing the experiment. Another limitation was the uncontrolled hand shake while performing the experiment. Normally, when the hand is suspended in the air, it is not stable in its movements. This is natural, but once again a hindrance to the experiment’s reliability and accuracy. Also, the rate and intensity of shaking of the hand can be worsened if too much caffeine is consumed before performing the experiment, that leads to the high intensity of incoordination of nerves and muscles in the body. This once again leads to incorrect readings of the rebound height, contributing to the inaccuracy and unreliability of this experiment.
Improvements
The accuracy could have been improved with the use of a digital camera, which could be used to find the exact height the ball bounced; this could be done by replaying the bounce. frame by frame. Also, The investigation should be done in a more controlled environment, as the temperature in each room in the house varies due to factors such as the number of windows in the room, that increases wind flow into the room. Also, the area of the space of the room can also affect the temperature of the room due to the fact that a larger room will mean that it takes a longer time for it to get warmer from the heat of the body expelled by the person performing the experiment, and vice-versa. Finally, a mechanical apparatus hat releases the tennis ball from the planned height can be used, to ensure that the height is accurate every time the experiment is being performed. Since a mechanical apparatus is more reliable than the hand of a person releasing the ball, this is a much better method, that will guarantee the accuracy of the results obtained in the experiment.
Link To Conservation Of Energy
The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, just transforms from one form to another. These forms can include kinetic and potential energy as well as light, heat and sound. Since energy cannot be created or destroyed, the amount of energy present in the universe is always the same. It is simply being transformed and transferred over and over again.
Judging by the fact that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it seems reasonable that the ball should continue bouncing forever. Observing a bouncing ball on Earth, however, shows that eventually the ball will slow down and stop bouncing. Where does the extra energy go? Most of the energy found in a bouncing ball is transformed into heat and sound due to friction. As the energy is transformed into heat and sound, it is not available to be transformed into gravitational potential energy, elastic potential energy or kinetic energy. Some of this friction takes place with the air, while some of it takes place with the ground.
The term efficiency can be used to describe how much energy is lost through friction. A more efficient process means that more energy is retained, while a less efficient process retains less energy.