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Bouncing Ball Parabola
This week we will investigate conic shapes in the real world.
Begin by selecting Start a New Conversation. Research ONE example of a conic section in real life that has not already been used by a classmate.
Make your choice (Bouncing ball) the subject of your post, and then tell us in your own words about your find. Do not just make this up off the top of your head. The St Louis Arch, for example, is NOT a parabola—it is an inverted catenary.
To get credit for this Discussion, you must cite a source confirming that your example is, indeed, a conic and not some other more exotic curve.
Using a personal example (My eyebrow) will not count unless you can cite a source verifying that eyebrows are parabolic.
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Bouncing Ball Parabola
Example: Bouncing Ball and Parabolic Trajectory
One of the most common real-world examples of a conic section, specifically a parabola, is the trajectory of a bouncing ball. When a ball is thrown or dropped, it follows a curved path before hitting the ground and rebounding. This curved path is typically parabolic in shape, particularly in the absence of air resistance.
The path of a ball’s bounce is modeled as a parabola because the force of gravity pulls the ball down at a constant rate, and the initial velocity imparts an upward motion, creating a curve. The ball’s horizontal movement remains consistent while the vertical movement is influenced by gravity, resulting in the parabolic arc. This principle is a classic example of projectile motion, which is governed by the equations of kinematics and can be represented as a parabola.
A source confirming the parabolic nature of a bouncing ball’s trajectory is “Projectile Motion and Parabolas” by Harvard University (https://physics.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Classical_Mechanics/Projectile_Motion). According to the article, the path followed by projectiles, including a bouncing ball, can be modeled as a parabola in a uniform gravitational field.