Abstract The rebound rating is the ratio of the height the ball bounces to, divided by the height the ball was dropped from. Since the rebound rating is always less than 1, this implies that not all of the potential energy of the ball held up in the air is converted to the kinetic energy of the bounce when the ball is dropped. But conservation of energy requires that the energy must be the same before and after the ball is dropped? Where does the energy go? Bounce a ball 100 times, then hold it in your hand. In your other hand hold a ball that wasn't bounced. What is the difference? (See: Goodstein, 1999, 22–23.)Bibliography Goodstein, M., 1999. Sports Science Projects: The Physics of Balls in Motion. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers.Shop for Supplies at Science Buddies Online Store
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Physicist Physicists have a big goal in mind—to understand the nature of the entire universe and everything in it! To reach that goal, they observe and measure natural events seen on Earth and in the universe, and then develop theories, using mathematics, to explain why those phenomena occur. Physicists take on the challenge of explaining events that happen on the grandest scale imaginable to those that happen at the level of the smallest atomic particles. Their theories are then applied to human-scale projects to bring people new technologies, like computers, lasers, and fusion energy. |
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Physics Teacher Our universe is full of matter and energy, and how that matter and energy moves and interacts in space and time is the subject of physics. Physics teachers spend their days showing and explaining the marvels of physics, which underlies all the other science subjects, including biology, chemistry, Earth and space science. Their work serves to develop the next generation of scientists and engineers, including all healthcare professionals. They also help all students better understand their physical world and how it works in their everyday lives, as well as how to become better citizens by understanding the process of scientific research. | |
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