That’s the Way the Ball Bounces

This Investigation Demonstration (ID) investigates how the molecular nature of materials affect the materials’ “bouncibility.”  Children in the audience participate in an Act-It-Out that models the straight-chain and cross-linked polymeric structure of the “Smart/Stupid” demonstration balls. Using this model and associated experiments, they predict the answer to the question, “Which of the balls will bounce higher?” and test to see if they are right in the show’s climax.  Pre- and post-lesson assessment is embedded in the show.

Run time: 22 minutes.