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How Does Temperature Affect the Bounce Height of a Ball?

Before we resolve this question using a simulation, we must first understand a few terms and know how to graph scientific data.

Part 1: How to Graph Experimental Data

📝 Assignment: Copy the information in the three blue boxes into your binder as notes with a date on the top and the title: Conducting Experiments and Analyzing Data.

Experimental Variables

  • Independent Variable (IV): The one factor that you, the scientist, intentionally change.
  • Dependent Variable (DV): The factor that responds to that change. This is what you measure and record as your data.
  • Constant: A factor that is kept exactly the same throughout the experiment to ensure a fair test.

Remembering Variables: DRY MIX

Scientists use a simple trick to remember where variables go on a graph:

  • D.R.Y. = The Dependent (or Responding) variable always goes on the Y-axis (vertical).
  • M.I.X. = The Manipulated (or Independent) variable always goes on the X-axis (horizontal).

Building a Good Graph: TAILS

Every proper scientific graph needs TAILS:

  • Title: Must describe both variables (e.g., "Y-Axis vs. X-Axis").
  • Axis: X and Y axes drawn neatly and straight.
  • Interval: The numbers on the gridlines must count by an even pattern.
  • Labels: Tell us what is being measured AND include the units.
  • Scale: Use the whole graph paper! Don't squish all your data into one tiny corner.

Interactive Graphing Practice

A student wanted to see how sunlight affected plant growth. They placed Plant A outside in the sun every day, while keeping Plant B inside as a control group. The student measured Plant A's height once a day.

Data for Plant A: Day 1: 2 cm | Day 2: 4 cm | Day 4: 8 cm | Day 5: 10 cm | Day 6: 12 cm.

Task: Drag the labels to their correct locations based on DRY MIX. Then, click the grid intersections to plot the 5 data points.
Plant Height vs. Time in Sunlight
Plant Height (cm)
Time in Sunlight (Days)
Drop Title Here
Drop Y-Axis Label
Drop X-Axis Label

Part 2: Experimental Design & Variables

Now, let's look at today's physics experiment. We are going to drop a rubber ball from a starting height of 300 cm over and over again. We will change the temperature of the ball before we drop it to see how high it bounces back up.

Part 3: Data Collection

Task: Drop the ball at 6 DIFFERENT temperatures to generate a Line of Best Fit. (0/6 complete)
Constant Drop Height: 300 cm
Max Bounce Height (DV): 0 cm

Live Drop Path

Temperature vs. Bounce Height

Part 4: Data Analysis (Interpolation & Extrapolation)

Your Generated Graph:

Now that you have 6 data points, a Line of Best Fit has been drawn on your graph. It shows the general trend of your data and allows you to make predictions.

Look at where your Line of Best Fit crosses the grid. Match the temperatures below to their predicted bounce heights:

Part 5: Scientific Argumentation (CER)

Your Generated Graph:

Step 1: Formulate a Claim

Based on your graph, how does increasing the temperature affect the bounce height of the ball?

Step 2: Identify Supporting Evidence

Which piece of recorded data directly proves your claim?

Step 3: Provide Scientific Reasoning

Using what you know about energy, why does this happen?

CER Completed Successfully!

Great job! You have constructed a complete scientific explanation. Continue to the final quiz.

Part 6: Final Assessment

Read each experimental scenario carefully and answer the questions based on the variables, constants, and hypotheses discussed in this lab.

Experiment 1:

A farmer wants to know if the type of fertilizer used affects how many apples an apple tree produces. He plants 3 identical apple trees in the same soil, gives them the same amount of water, and tracks the apple yield in the fall. He gives Tree A brand X fertilizer, Tree B brand Y fertilizer, and Tree C no fertilizer.


Experiment 2:

An engineer is testing the aerodynamics of a new car. She places the car in a wind tunnel and measures the drag force (air resistance) on the car at wind speeds of 20, 40, 60, and 80 miles per hour.


Experiment 3:

A student wants to see if adding salt to water changes its boiling point. She boils one liter of pure water on the front burner of her stove. Next, she boils one liter of water with 50g of salt mixed in, also on the front burner.


Experiment 4:

A researcher collects data on how many cups of coffee office workers drink and how many hours they sleep that night. They create a graph with "Cups of Coffee" on the X-axis and "Hours of Sleep" on the Y-axis. The Line of Best Fit goes downward from left to right.


Experiment 5:

You want to test if listening to classical music helps students score higher on math tests.


Experiment 6:

A student tests 3 different brands of paper towels (Bounty, Brawny, and Sparkle) to see which one absorbs the most water. They cut a 6-inch square of each towel and dip it in water for 10 seconds.


Experiment 7:

Referencing the paper towel experiment from Question 6 above:


Experiment 8:

A student builds a ramp and rolls a red toy car down it to see how the angle of the ramp affects the car's final speed. They test the ramp at 10°, 20°, and 30° angles.


Experiment 9:

You are graphing the data from the ramp experiment in Question 8.


Experiment 10:

A scientist wants to know if sleeping 8 hours a night improves memory test scores compared to sleeping 5 hours a night.