What materials bounce cowhide or vulcanized rubber most?

In summary, a high school student working on a patent is trying to determine which material, cowhide or vulcanized rubber, will bounce off the most. The general rule is that the less a material deforms when struck, the more energy is available for the bounce. This means that soft cowhide does not bounce well, and it also bounces poorly off another soft cowhide or a flexible sheet of rubber. However, the construction of the material is also important, as seen in the case of a trampoline where the steel springs contribute to a higher bounce. It is also possible to make springs out of hide or treat it to be stiff, which can improve its bouncing ability. The engineering term for this is "coefficient of restitution
  • #1
grey16
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I am trying to find out what material that cowhide or vulcanized rubber will bounce off the most? (High school student working on a patent, so really not too experienced with materials engineering.)
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF;
The subject is too broad ... you just have to test the materials you are interested in.
For what purpose is a high school student working on a patent?

As a general rule, the less a material deforms when struck the more energy is available for the bounce ... so soft cowhide does not bounce well, and it bounces badly off another soft cowhide, or a very flexible sheet of rubber. But construction is important too - i.e. a trampoline deforms a lot but you bounce higher off that than from the ground because you are actually bouncing off the steel springs ... even so, rubber balls perform poorly off a trampoline mat compared with a concrete floor.
A cowhide ball will bounce better from any surface than a flat sheet and you can make springs out of hide, and/or treat it to be stiff. See what I mean?

The engineering term you will be looking for is "coefficient of restitution".
 

Related to What materials bounce cowhide or vulcanized rubber most?

What is the difference between cowhide and vulcanized rubber?

Cowhide is a natural material made from the skin of cows, while vulcanized rubber is a man-made material created through a chemical process.

Which material is more commonly used for bouncing?

Vulcanized rubber is more commonly used for bouncing due to its elasticity and ability to retain its shape.

What factors affect the bouncing ability of cowhide and vulcanized rubber?

The thickness and density of the material, as well as the amount of air trapped inside, can affect the bouncing ability of both cowhide and vulcanized rubber.

Can cowhide or vulcanized rubber be modified to improve their bouncing ability?

Yes, both materials can be modified through various processes such as adding air pockets or increasing the density to improve their bouncing ability.

Which material bounces better on different surfaces?

This can vary depending on the specific surface and the condition of the material, but in general, vulcanized rubber tends to bounce better on hard and smooth surfaces, while cowhide may have better bounce on grass or softer surfaces.

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