1

Name: ___________________________________

Date: ___________________________________
Science 10 Physics
Energy Conservation Lab


Problem: Which type of ball most closely resembles a perfect machine?

Rationale: A perfect machine transfers all of its energy into the same or another form of
energy completely, with no energy lost to the surroundings as heat or any other
form of energy. Study the balls in the materials and state a hypothesis about which
of the given balls would do the best job of converting one form of energy into
another. In your hypothesis, state how you would determine if the bouncing ball
resembles a perfect machine.

Hypothesis:









Materials: 1. Bouncy Ball
2. Tennis Ball
3. Basketball
4. Meter Stick
5. Scale

Procedure:

1. Determine the mass of the first ball and record it in your table.
2. Set the meter stick in a vertical position and drop ball 1 from the top of the meter stick
to the floor. Carefully note the height at which the ball bounces. Repeat this step 4 more
times, recording each value.
3. Calculate the average value for the height at which ball 1 bounces.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for balls 2 and 3.

2
Data: You can use the following charts to collect you data:
Type of Ball
Mass of Ball
(kg)
Starting
Height (m)
Bounce Height (m)
Average Bounce
Height (m)
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00

Calculations for Average Bounce Heights:



Type of
Ball
Mass of Ball (kg)
Starting
Height (m)
Starting Potential
Energy
Ep = mgh (J)
Average
Bounce
Height (m)
Final
Potential
Energy
Ep = mgh (J)
Loss of Potential
Energy

(J)
1.00
1.00
1.00

Energy Calculations:

3
Analysis:

1. List the energy conversions from the moment you lift the ball to the top of the meter stick to
the time that the ball reaches its highest point on its bounce.



2. Explain how the conversion of energy for each ball illustrates the first law of
thermodynamics.



3. What happened to the lost energy? Is the lost energy a violation of the law of conservation
of energy?




Conclusion:

1. According to your data, which ball best resembles a perfect machine? Justify your answer.



2. Which ball least resembles a perfect machine? Justify your answer.



3. Do the results of the experiment agree with your hypothesis? Explain.