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What affects the quality of a bouncy ball? - Coggle Diagram
What affects the quality of a bouncy ball?
Ways to make a bouncy ball (materials)
Water
The temperature of the water to dissolve borax
The water is too hot
borax may dissolve too quickly
causing the solution to become too saturated
may lead to a ball that is too stiff and not bouncy
The water is too cold
the borax may not dissolve completely
may results in a weaker ball that is not as durable or bouncy
Warm water (around 40-50 degrees Celsius)
Borax
Too much borax
The solution may become oversaturated
causing the borax to crystallize
may result in a ball that is too hard and not bouncy
Too little borax
the ball may not be durable or bouncy enough
The correct amount of borax
may require some experimentation to find the right amount
Glue
Too little glue may result in a ball that is not durable enough and falls apart easily
Too much glue may make the ball too heavy and sticky
The correct proportion of glue can achieve the desired texture and elasticity of the ball
Corn starch
Too little cornstarch
may result in a ball that is too sticky
Too much cornstarch
the ball may become too stiff and not very bouncy
The specific amount of cornstarch
may require some experimentation to find the right amount
What is bouncy ball?
The bouncy ball in this experiment is made up from a polymer
Polymers are molecules made up of repeating chemical units. Glue contains the polymer polyvinyl acetate (PVA), which cross-links to itself when reacted with borax
Possible independent variables (factors/ conditions)
The ratio of each ingredient (%)
Temperature
Surface area
Possible dependent variables
The average height of bounce (cm)
Limitation
Time (cooling process)
homemade bouncy ball requires time to form its shape
If the mixture is not allowed to cool for enough time
the ball may become flat or misshapen
No professional equipment
( e.g monitors)
to check exactly what height the ball could bounce
Humidity
Humid
If the room is too humid, the mixture may absorb excess moisture from the air
causing the ball to become too wet and difficult to handle
Dry
If the room is too dry, the mixture may harden too quickly, leading to a ball that is too stiff and not very bouncy
Different type of glue
may have different types of polymers which will affect the ball's properties