Bouncing Ball

Here is a simulation of a bouncing ball. This simulation portrays three important concepts in Physics: Conservation of Momentum, Graivty, and Vectors.

Gravity (acceleration) and velocity vectors are represented here. The gravity vector is pink, and the velocity vector is yellow. Notice how the gravity vector remains constant throughout the whole simulation, whereas the velocity vector changes its magnitude and direction.

The gravity vector is constant because when an object such as a ball is in free fall, gravity does not change it is constant, 9.81 m/s^2.

The velocity vector changes however because as the ball reaches a maximum height, it slows down reaching a velocity of 0. Once the ball starts accelerating due to gravity towards the ground again, then the velocity vector increases again, due to the pull of gravity, and the distance the ball needs to travel. When the ball hits the ground, the velocity vector also increases based on the bounce index the ball has from hitting the ground, and needing to reach a maximum height after exeperiencing every bounce index. As the simulation goes on for a few seconds the ball starts to bounce less and less. This is because after each bounce, the ball loses some energy. This loss of energy also effects the velocity vector as a decrease in energy causes a decrease in velocity.

Once the ball has lost all of its energy, it comes to a stop.

In this example, which you can try at home, you can now envision, how vectors exist in the real world, and how in this specific example, gravity and conservation of momentum can be represented by the use of vectors.

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