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arXiv · 2202.03034

Modeling the bounce of a gas-filled ball

Martin Allen·Bruce Allen
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Abstract

The coefficient of restitution $ε$ characterizes the energy retained when a ball bounces, and can easily be measured in an ``at home'' experiment. For thin-walled gas-filled balls such as basketballs, we construct a simple two parameter model to describe how $ε$ changes as a function of the ball's internal pressure. A comparison with data shows good agreement. With additional assumptions, the model also predicts how $ε$ changes as a function of temperature. A comparison with tennis ball data shows surprisingly good agreement.

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Martin Allen, Bruce Allen. 2024-12-26. Modeling the bounce of a gas-filled ball. https://arxiv.org/abs/2202.03034

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