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Forces and Motion Science Fair Project

Golf Ball Bounciness and Driving Distance

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Golf Ball Bounciness and Driving Distance | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Does a bouncier golf ball travel farther when hit? You test three brands of golf balls. First, drop each ball from one meter onto a flat surface and count the bounces. This ranks their bounciness. Then three amateur golfers hit the same balls at a driving range with a driver. You measure how far each ball travels. Comparing bounciness rankings to distance measurements shows whether the springiest ball really does fly the farthest.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that bouncier golf balls will travel further than less bouncy ones.

Method & Materials

You will drop golf balls from a height of one meter and count the number of bounces. Then, you will bring golfers to a driving range and measure the distance each ball travels when hit with a golf club.
You will need 15 golf balls, 3 amateur golfers, 5 golf clubs, a measuring tape, a golf driving range, and an assistant to help with the measurement.

Results

The results showed that the bouncier balls traveled the furthest, while the least bouncy traveled the shortest distance. The bouncier balls probably bounced a greater number of times and over a larger distance.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it shows how the bounciness of a golf ball affects the distance it will travel.

Also Consider

Consider changing the size of the golf club used or changing the temperature of the ball by placing it in hot or cold water before repeating the experiment.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

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