Materials Required

* A large, heavy ball such as a basketball or soccer ball * A smaller, light ball such as a tennis ball or inflatable rubber ball

Method

  • In the open, carefully put the smaller, light ball on top of the large, heavy ball putting one hand under the heavier ball and the other on top of the light ball.
  • Let go of both the balls at the same time and make your observation.

What is Learnt

Potential energy is built when the 2 balls were held together that transfers into kinetic energy, thereby showing that energy is never lost but only transformed from one type to another type.

Conclusion

The tennis ball will bounce off the basketball, fly up into the air and the 2 balls hit each other after hitting the ground. Kinetic energy from the larger ball is transferred to the smaller ball making it go up into the air. A lot of the kinetic energy in the larger basketball is transferred through to the smaller tennis ball, sending it high into the air.