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Bouncing Ball Problem and Geometric Series

This document describes an experiment involving calculating the total vertical distance traveled by a bouncing ball. It provides an example where the ball is dropped from 6 feet and each bounce is 3/4 the height of the previous bounce. The total distance is calculated as a geometric series summing to 42 feet. Students are assigned to conduct the experiment, determine the bounce ratio, and formulate a formula to calculate total distance for a given initial height.

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Em Respicio
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209 views3 pages

Bouncing Ball Problem and Geometric Series

This document describes an experiment involving calculating the total vertical distance traveled by a bouncing ball. It provides an example where the ball is dropped from 6 feet and each bounce is 3/4 the height of the previous bounce. The total distance is calculated as a geometric series summing to 42 feet. Students are assigned to conduct the experiment, determine the bounce ratio, and formulate a formula to calculate total distance for a given initial height.

Uploaded by

Em Respicio
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

2/22/2016

Bouncing Ball Problem and


Geometric Series
Gina Rablau
Gina Rablau

Bouncing Ball Problem and


Geometric Series
A Motivating Example for Module 3

Project Description

This project demonstrates the following concepts in integral calculus:

1. Sequences.
2. Sum of a geometric progression.
3. Infinite series.

Numeric Example

In my experiment, the ball was dropped from a height of 6 feet and begins bouncing.
The height of each bounce is three-fourths the height of the previous bounce. Find the
total vertical distance travelled by the ball.

Solution When the ball hits the ground for the first time, it has traveled a distance
D1 = 6 feet. For subsequent bounces, let Di be the distance traveled up and down.
For example, D2 and D3 are

3 3 3


D2 = 6  + 6  = 12 
4 4 4
up + down

and
2
 3  3   3  3  3
D3 = 6   + 6   = 12 
 4  4   4  4  4
1
Gina Rablau

By continuing this process, it can be determined that the total vertical distance is
2 3
3 3 3
D = 6 + 12  + 12  + 12  + ...
4 4 4

n +1
∞
3
= 6 + 12∑  
n =0  4 

n
3 ∞ 3
= 6 + 12 ∑  
 4  n =0  4 

 1 
= 6 + 9 
1 − (3 / 4 ) 

= 6 + 9(4) = 42 feet.

Your Assignment

1. Obtain a ball (e.g. a tennis ball or racket ball).


2. Drop the ball from a height h at your choice.
3. Find the ratio of the maximum height h1 to which the ball bounces back to the
initial height h from which the ball was released.
4. Assume that the ratio found in part (3) remains constant for subsequent bounce
ups.
5. Obtain a formula that will provide the total vertical distance traveled by the
vertically bouncing ball from initial release to a full stop

2

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