Measuring the collision time of a ball with high coefficient of restitution
Measuring the collision time of a ball with high coefficient of restitution

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this project is to determine the collision time of a Super Ball (rubber ball with a coefficient of restitution of about 0,9) and its dependence on collision velocity. The project includes a theoretical model of the phenomenon, which predicts the ball oscillates harmonically during the collision, direct methods for measuring the collision time, a proof of the theoretical model and indirect methods. The collision time determined by all five methods is between 8,4 and 8,7 ms, with the most accurate one yielding 8,48 ms. The advantage of the indirect methods is that they do not need advanced equipment like a high-speed camera at 1000 fps, but even then, can lead to very accurate results. The project also describes under which conditions the theoretical model becomes irrelevant and the systematic errors some of the indirect methods might produce, either if data is not correctly analyzed of because of the shortcomings of the theoretical model above high enough collision speeds.

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