Bouncing Ball
Physics – Velocity / Acceleration / Displacement 11.1.4
negative
1m
g = a = 10ms-2
zero displacement
Ball hits ground
Constant acceleration to ground due to gravity = -10ms-2
(-as towards ground)
Ball left ground at
max velocity
Ball dropped
so zero
velocity at
start
Top of bounce
velocity reduced to
zero
accel = -10ms-2
as ball falls to
earth
Ball hits ground
and velocity
reverses
Ball released s = 1m
Ball hits ground s = 0m
Peak height of ball
Energy lost to
surroundings so s
peak is smaller on
each bounce