Steel Marble Bouncing: Steel vs. Glass Plate Comparison

[dg_5021]

if you dropped a steel marble onto a steel plate and then dropped a steel marble onto a glass plate which would you expect to bounce higher?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Steel is much more elastic than glass so the marble bouncing off steel will go higher than the marble bouncing of glass (which might, in fact, not bounce but go right on through!).

 

[GSXR750]

Based on the properties of steel and glass, I would expect the steel marble to bounce higher on the steel plate. This is because steel is a harder and more rigid material compared to glass, which is more brittle. When the steel marble hits the steel plate, the impact force will be transferred back to the marble, causing it to bounce higher due to the material's elasticity. On the other hand, the glass plate may absorb some of the impact force, resulting in a lower bounce for the steel marble. Additionally, the smooth surface of the steel plate may provide a better surface for the marble to bounce off of compared to the potentially uneven surface of the glass plate. However, the height of the bounce may also depend on the specific properties of the steel and glass used, such as their thickness and composition.