A ball bounces higher on a hard surface than on a soft surface due to the difference in elasticity of the materials. On a hard surface, energy is conserved during the bounce, allowing the ball to bounce higher. On a soft surface, some of the energy is absorbed by the ground, limiting the height of the bounce.
When a ball hits a hard surface, it bounces more because almost all the energy is directly returned to the ball, with less loss. In contrast, if the surface is soft, it absorbs a good part of the energy by deforming upon impact. This deformation diverts some of the energy that would have pushed the ball upwards, resulting in a much weaker bounce compared to a rigid surface. A hard surface limits losses; the energy remains available for maximum upward propulsion.
When a ball hits the ground, its motion energy, called kinetic energy, is largely transferred to the ground. If the ground is rigid, this transfer is quick and almost lossless: the ball immediately recovers most of that energy to bounce back. In contrast, with a soft or yielding surface, the energy is more distributed: part of it sinks into the surface, causing deformation. As a result, a large portion of the initial energy is used to deform the ground and is lost as heat or vibrations. The ball then recovers much less energy, bounces less forcefully, and therefore takes off less high.
When a ball hits the ground, both deform slightly upon impact. This deformation temporarily absorbs some of the rebound energy. With a soft surface, a good portion of the energy is lost as it is used to crush or compress that material. In contrast, a hard surface deforms very little, allowing most of the energy to be quickly returned to the ball. The ball thus regains its original shape faster, without wasting energy on "sinking" into the ground. As a result, it bounces significantly higher on a hard surface than on a soft material.
The coefficient of restitution is simply a value that indicates how high your ball bounces after hitting the ground. When this coefficient is close to 1, the ball bounces almost as high as its starting point. Conversely, the closer you get to 0, the more the ball flattens out like a pancake without really bouncing back, because a lot of energy is lost. Essentially, this coefficient measures how much mechanical energy remains after the ball hits the ground. On a hard surface, the coefficient is higher because the energy lost through deformation is less, while on a soft surface, like a mattress, the ball loses a lot of energy in the compression. That's why your ball bounces high on concrete but significantly less when it falls on your plush couch.
When a ball bounces, a portion of the initial energy is lost; it dissipates. This loss of energy often occurs in the form of heat or sound waves. Specifically, the more the ground or the ball deforms, the more this deformation transforms the initial kinetic energy into heat, vibrations, or even noise. A large dissipation simply means that a lot of energy leaves the impact in ways other than the ball bouncing back up. Less energy after the impact means less height on the rebound. On a soft surface, the dissipation is generally greater, which significantly reduces the final height of the bounce. In contrast, a hard surface limits this energy dispersion and allows the ball to retain more of its initial energy, resulting in a higher bounce.
The coefficient of restitution, which measures the efficiency of a bounce, is very high for golf balls (around 0.8 to 0.9), which explains why they bounce easily on very hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete.
High-pressure inflated balls generally bounce higher because the increased stiffness limits deformation and allows for better energy return— a phenomenon particularly observed in professional basketballs.
Surprisingly, a steel ball can bounce almost as high as a rubber ball on a rigid metal surface, because hard materials deform very little and efficiently return the kinetic energy received.
An elastic surface, like the one used on athletic tracks, combines optimal rigidity and flexibility, allowing athletes to achieve better bounce during runs or jumps, while also protecting their joints.
A hard surface deforms very little and transfers a large part of the kinetic energy to the ball during the bounce. In contrast, surfaces like grass or clay absorb more energy by deforming, which reduces the height of the bounce.
A rigid surface effectively transmits energy to the ball with minimal deformation, promoting a better bounce. In contrast, an elastic surface absorbs a significant amount of energy by deforming, reducing the energy returned to the ball and, consequently, the height of its bounce.
The rebound height of a ball can be measured accurately using devices such as high-speed cameras coupled with analytical software, laser distance sensors, or by marking graduated visual reference points for reliable manual measurement.
Yes, changing the temperature influences the elastic reaction of materials. For example, a balloon or a rubber ball will generally bounce better when it is warm, as heat increases its elasticity, whereas at low temperatures it becomes stiffer and less bouncy.
With each bounce, a portion of the ball's kinetic energy is transformed into heat, sound, or deformation of the material. This phenomenon of energy dissipation prevents the ball from reaching exactly the same height with each bounce.
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