2026 Experiments

Effect of Low Temperatures and Pressure on the Bounce Height of Rubber Balls

Abstract

This experiment investigated how exposure to low temperatures and low atmospheric pressure at high altitude affects the bounce height of rubber balls. Three identical rubber balls were evaluated by dropping them from the same height before and after being sent to an altitude of nearly 100,000 feet using a weather balloon. Bounce height was measured multiple times and averaged for each ball. The results showed that the rubber balls experienced a decrease in bounce height after exposure to extreme atmospheric conditions. The average bounce height decreased by approximately 12%, suggesting that low temperatures and pressures reduced the elasticity of the rubber material.

Research Question

How does exposure to low temperatures and low atmospheric pressure at high altitude affect the bounce height of rubber balls?

Hypothesis

If rubber balls are exposed to the extremely low temperatures and low atmospheric pressures found near 100,000 feet altitude, then the average bounce height of the balls will decrease because the rubber will become less elastic in frigid conditions.

Variables

Independent Variable

Exposure of the rubber balls to high-altitude low temperature and low-pressure conditions.

Dependent Variable

Bounce height of the rubber balls.

Controlled Variables

Type and size of rubber balls

Drop height

Surface used for testing

Method of release

Measuring equipment

Number of trials

Materials

Three identical rubber balls

Meter stick

Flat tabletop

Weather balloon

Payload container

Data Collectors (Z-Log and SPOT Trace)

Computer

Trajectory prediction program (http://predict.sondehub.org/)

APRS tracking program (aprs.fi)

Procedure

1. Label the three rubber balls as Ball A, Ball B, and Ball C.

2. Measure a drop height of 2.00 meters.

3. Drop Ball A from the measured height onto a level tabletop.

4. Measure the maximum bounce height.

5. Repeat the process twenty-five times for Ball A.

6. Repeat steps 3–5 for Balls B and C.

7. Record all data and calculate average bounce heights.

8. Place the balls inside a plastic container and attach the container to the outside of the weather     balloon payload.

9. Launch the weather balloon to approximately 100,000 feet.

10. Recover the payload after landing.

11. Repeat the bounce height tests using the same procedure and location.

12. Compare the before-flight and after-flight average bounce heights.

Sample Data Table (10 of 25 Trials)

Pre-Flight Bounce Heights (m) - Balls were dropped from a height of one meter.

Ball A  0.76, 0.81, 0.81, 0.84, 0.81, 0.81, 0.84, 0.81, 0.76, 0.79

Ball B  0.80, 0.82, 0.83, 0.88, 0.85, 0.82, 0.85, 0.86, 0.89, 0.85

Ball C  0.76, 0.81, 0.81, 0.84, 0.81, 0.81, 0.84, 0.81, 0.76, 0.79

Post-Flight Bounce Heights (m) - Balls were dropped from a height of one meter.

Ball A  0.75, 0.81, 0.80, 0.78, 0.80, 0.78, 0.80, 0.80, 0.81, 0.75

Ball B  0.81, 0.78, 0.81, 0.75, 0.85, 0.80, 0.80, 0.84, 0.90, 0.86

Ball C  0.77, 0.75, 0.81, 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.76, 0.82, 0.77, 0.75

Analysis

Calculations

Average Pre-Flight Bounce Height

Ball A   19.7/ 25 = 0.788 m

Ball B    20.5/ 25 = 0.82 m

Ball C    19.65/ 25 = 0.786 m

Average    2.394/ 3  = 0.798 m 

Average Post-Flight Bounce Height

Ball A   19.5/ 25 = 0.78 m

Ball B    19.8/ 25 = 0.792 m

Ball C    19.4/ 25 = 0.776 m

Average    2.37/ 3  = 0.790 m

Percent Change

(0.790 - 0.798) / 0.798  =  -1.0%

Results

Although the data showed that all three rubber balls bounced lower after being exposed to high-altitude conditions, a difference of only 1 percent is not significant. A change of only 8 mm is exceedingly small and could be from experimental error. Sources of error would include.

parallax measurement errors

dropping the ball with a slight push

dropping the ball from a slightly different height (random error)

the ball may not have been spherical.

the post-test was not conducted until four days after the recovery.

Conclusions

The experiment investigated whether exposure to low temperatures and low atmospheric pressures found near 100,000 feet would affect the bounce height of rubber balls. The average bounce height before flight was 0.798 m, while the average bounce height after recovery was 0.790 m. This represented a decrease of approximately 1%.

Because the difference in bounce height was exceedingly small, the results suggest that exposure to near-space conditions had little to no measurable effect on the elasticity and performance of the rubber balls. The small decrease observed may have been caused by normal experimental error or natural variation in the bounce tests rather than the environmental conditions experienced during the flight. Also, the effects of the atmospheric conditions may have been affected by the delay in conducting the post-  test. The balloon was launched on Thursday, and it was not recovered until Friday. The post-test was conducted on the following Monday.

Overall, the hypothesis was not strongly supported by the data. This experiment could be improved by using a camera to record the bounce. Measurements could be made using the footage. The balls could be dropped using a mechanical set-up like clamps for dropping the ball. This should reduce errors in the ball dropping process. Every effort should be made to conduct the post-test as soon as possible after the landing. Additional experiments could be conducted to validate the findings of the experiment.

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