Follow the Bouncing Ball

Was C's winning plan for the science fair.  He chose to test the hypothesis that the higher the place from which a ball is dropped, the higher it will bounce.  We looked up some info on the internet that explained that a ball gains energy from gravity as it falls, so balls that fall a greater distance have more energy to bounce back.  But they never bounce back as high as the point from which they were dropped because they lose energy when they hit the ground.

While at Oma and Opa's house at Xmas, we dropped a ball from three heights and measured the bounce.  C recorded the observations and averaged the measurements from the three trials at each height.  Once we returned home, C and T made a very colorful and clear display board.  C worked on answering questions he might get from the judges.  C took it to school on the first day back from break.

Then he never told us that he had won recognition for his project.  We saw his name listed in the weekly newsletter from the school last night and had to ask him about it this morning!  Today he brought home a certificate.  He gets to go on to the Regional Science fair to be held at UNC Charlotte in early Feb.

Good job, Colin!