A rubber ball bounces. We’d like to understand how the ball bounces.

a. A rubber ball has been dropped and is bouncing off the floor. Draw a motion diagram of the ball during the brief time interval that it is in contact with the floor. Show 4 or 5 frames as the ball compresses, then another 4 or 5 frames as it expands. What is the direction of a(vector) during each of these parts of the motion?

b. Draw a picture of the ball in contact with the floor and identify all forces acting on the ball.

c. Draw a free-body diagram of the ball during its contact with the ground. Is there a net force acting on the ball? If so, in which direction?

d. Write a paragraph in which you describe what you learned from parts a to c and in which you answer the question: How does a ball bounce?