Bouncing Ball Bounce Higher at Hills than in Planes

We can all look back on our childhood days and recall some acquaintance with the bouncing balls. It may be a basketball game with friends or shooting tennis balls on the table. We all are quite familiar with these dancing toys in some way or another.

The matter of fact about these balls is that they not only are the best way to shake a leg but also a major source to subjects like acceleration, velocity, energy, and a lot more.  

What makes a ball bounce higher?

When a ball falls and hits the ground, all the stored kinetic energy has to go somewhere. A major portion of it goes back to the ball, giving it more force to pop back up into the air― and hence the higher the potential energy, the higher the kinetic energy, and the higher the kinetic energy, the higher the bounce.

Why does a bouncing ball bounce higher at hills than in planes?

This phenomenon is because the acceleration due to gravity on hills is comparatively less than the gravity experienced by the earth’s surface, i.e., planes. So, the ball is less attracted towards the ground on hills than in plains. This is the reason why a ball bounces higher at hills than in planes. This can be denoted as:

g’ < g

The height to which a ball bounces is actually inversely proportional to the acceleration due to gravity at that place. Acceleration due to gravity is less on hills as compared to planes. Therefore a bouncing ball bounces higher on hills than on planes.

To make this phenomenon easier to understand, let’s first take a look at gravity and acceleration due to gravity one by one.

Gravitational Force

Have you ever thought about why fruits fall on the ground? Why don’t they fly off in the air? The reason is very simple. This phenomenon takes place because of a strong force of attraction. A force that is invisible to the eye but is all around the universe. That force is called Gravitational Force.

The force that binds all the masses in the universe together is the Gravitational force. 

Example: Leaves falling from a tree.

Leaves fall on the ground because of the gravitational pull present on Earth.

This force is not only limited to our planet but also holds the entire universe together. This force always tries to keep masses together and never repels them apart.

Acceleration Due To Gravity

When a body falls on the surface of the earth, a uniform acceleration is produced because of the gravitational force possessed by the earth. It is known as acceleration due to gravity.

Gravitational acceleration constant:

g = 9.81 m/s²

Conclusion

When a bouncing ball falls, it initially gains some kinetic energy or speed, which is the energy of motion. When it touches the surface of the earth, it collides head-on with an incredibly bigger object, that is, from your perspective, at rest. The ball eventually slows down, deforms temporarily, and shoots back up. The same bouncing ball bounces higher on hills as compared to planes. This phenomenon is because the acceleration due to gravity on hills is comparatively less than the gravity experienced by the earth’s surface, i.e., planes. So, the ball is less attracted towards the ground on hills than in plains.