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Gravitational Potential Energy In Golf Essay

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Introduction

Potential energy is energy stored in an object that gives it the capacity to do work or make things happen. Every object positioned above the ground had gravitational potential energy (Gravitational Potential Energy = mass x gravity x height), therefore when a ball (which has gravitational potential energy) is dropped, gravity pulls the ball towards the earth’s surface. The potential energy of the ball transforms into kinetic energy, or the energy of a moving object, as it falls (Kinetic Energy = ½ x mass x speed of object). Since the law of conservation of energy states that energy may be transferred but never created or destroyed, the kinetic energy in the ball has to go somewhere when the ball hits the ground. Therefore, the …show more content…

Different balls made of different materials bounce differently. Inelastic materials such as putty don’t return to their original shape when dropped and hence do not bounce. Instead, the energy is turned into thermal energy and the ball heats up. Materials with more elasticity, for example rubber, return to their original shape as most of the energy is transformed back into kinetic energy instead of heat and they therefore bounce. Research into how different materials affect the bounce height has drastically changed the way golf balls are manufactured. The very earliest golf balls from around 500-600 year ago were leather pouches stuffed with feathers, but developed over time to become the dimpled, plastic and rubber balls produced today. Most golf balls are 2-piece, consisting of a solid rubber core and an ionomer cover, or 3-piece, which has a gel, liquid or solid core as well as rubber thread windings and the plastic cover. Two-piece balls make up 70% of all golf balls produced as they last much longer than the 3-piece balls used by professionals (http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Golf-Ball.html). Dimples engraved on the covering of the ball enhances how …show more content…

Rather, the results suggest it is the type of ball that determines its bounce height. The differences in the average bounce height of the three most expensive golf balls (158.8) compared to the average bounce height of the cheaper golf balls (158.6) are minute. Callaway, Dunlop and Srixon were the balls that bounced the highest. Callaway, with an average bounce height of 165.6 cm, was expected to be the highest as it is the most expensive and a three-piece ball, which are designed to go longer distances and therefore need to bounce more. The Dunlop ball surprisingly came second with an average bounce height of 161 cm. Since details about this ball are unavailable due to it being an older model, this data suggests that the ball is a 3-piece ball. Srixon and Wilson Staff were extremely close, with Srixon’s average bounce height being 158.9 cm and Wilson’s average bounce height 0.2 cm lower at 158.6 cm. These results are, again, to be expected due to the 3-piece design of these ball. However, the average bounce height of the Strata ball (152 cm) was a surprise as it was the third most expensive ball and had the lowest bounce height. Dunlop and Top Flite’s bounce heights were average, being 161cm and 156.4cm respectively. As they were the cheapest balls, this was not unexpected. All of these golf balls weighed approximately

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