Compare peaks
Observe the release height and each rebound on the same height scale.
Bouncing Ball Lab
Observe rebound peaks and track mechanical energy transferred during each bounce.
Grades 3–5 · Physics
Your goal
Release from 2 m with restitution 0.8 and observe 1 rebound. Predict the fraction of mechanical energy remaining at the final peak.
Reduced motion is on. The controls still update the scene.
Release peak is 2.000 m. 100.00% of the original mechanical energy remains and 0.00% has transferred to the ball, floor and surroundings.
m
Each observation steps directly to a rebound peak. A constant restitution models an ideal vertical bounce on a fixed floor. No energy is lost in flight. At impact some mechanical energy becomes deformation, heat and sound; total energy is conserved across the whole system.
Related resources
Related infographics
Related cheat sheets
Study as flashcards
Related simulations
Learn with Bouncing Ball Lab
Bouncing Ball Lab helps elementary learners investigate why a dropped ball returns to a lower peak. Select a release height and restitution, then step through successive rebounds. A growing row of ball peaks uses one vertical scale, making height changes easy to compare without following fast animation. The feedback tracks the fraction of original mechanical energy remaining and the fraction transferred to the surroundings. Guided experiments connect the speed ratio at impact with its squared effect on height, while reminding students that energy is transferred rather than destroyed.
What to look for
Square the speed ratio
Restitution of 0.8 retains 0.64 of the height and mechanical energy per bounce.
Follow the energy
Mechanical energy transferred at impact becomes deformation, heat and sound.
For teachers and curious learners
Relate restitution to rebound height and loss of mechanical energy at impact. Ask students to predict what will happen, change one setting, and explain what they observe. Learn gives a starting point. Practice and Challenge offer new goals with the same scene.
A fixed coefficient of restitution sets rebound speed. Height and mechanical energy retain restitution squared at each impact. The fixed floor and flight have no other mechanical losses.