What is Rebound Ratio?
The rebound ratio (or coefficient of restitution) is a measure of the "restitution" of a collision between two objects. It is defined as the ratio of the final velocity to the initial velocity between two objects after they collide.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the initial velocity (v₁) of the ball before it hits the surface. This should be a positive number representing the speed in meters per second.
- Enter the final velocity (v₂) of the ball after it bounces off the surface. This should also be a positive number representing the speed in meters per second.
- Click the "Calculate" button to compute the rebound ratio and see the interpretation.
- If you want to start over, click the "Reset" button to clear all inputs.
Understanding the Results
The calculator will display the rebound ratio (e) and provide an interpretation of what this value means in terms of the collision type:
- Perfectly Elastic (e = 1): All kinetic energy is conserved during the collision. This is rare in real-world scenarios.
- Elastic (0.7 ≤ e < 1): Most of the kinetic energy is conserved. Superballs are a good example of near-perfectly elastic collisions.
- Inelastic (0 ≤ e < 0.7): Some kinetic energy is lost during the collision, typically converted to heat, sound, or deformation.
- Perfectly Inelastic (e = 0): Maximum energy loss occurs, with the colliding objects sticking together after the collision.
- Values greater than 1: Physically impossible for normal objects, indicating an error in measurement or calculation.
Example Use Cases
This calculator can be used in various applications including:
- Physics education to demonstrate energy conservation principles
- Material science to test the elasticity of different materials
- Sports science to analyze the performance of balls in different sports
- Engineering applications to design impact-resistant materials and structures