Coefficient of Restitution

  • Principle Illustrated: Elastic Deformation



  • Click on the image to view a QuickTime movie.

    A cylinder with a scale is used to determine the coefficient of restitution from direct measurement of the height of fall and the height of ascent after the bounce.

    Also known as "the happy and unhappy balls". Two balls of similar looking black plastic have extremely different CoRs. The "happy" ball has a CoR of roughly .9 whereas the "unhappy" ball has a CoR of about .01. The students are always fascinated by the "unhappy" ball's complete failure to bounce.

    This demo can be found in cabinet A on shelf 1 of the UCSD PUL Demo Room (WLH 2015).

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