Baseball and Basketball: Qualitative Testing Experiment

Aim

Test one's understanding of momentum.

Prior Knowledge

Momentum, mass.

Description of the Experiment

Mike is going to drop two balls: a basketball and a baseball sitting on top of the basketball. Use your knowledge of momentum to predict what will happen when they reach the floor. After you made your prediction, think of how you can justify it. Then watch the experiment and reconcile the outcome with the prediction.

Addtional Information

After you watch the video make a list of your observations. Try to write an many things as you can.

Youtube movies can be stepped frame by frame using the , and . keys on your keyboard. If you want to download the movie to your computer, right-click or control-click HERE.

Questions

Explain why a) the basketball doesn't rebound, b) why the baseball rebounds so much higher than the point from which the two balls were dropped.