Bounce No Bounce Balls – Science Toys That Teach

You might be surprised to find balls that don’t bounce, squish, change color, or even splat on the floor. It’s a great way to explore the science of toys.

The black rubber balls look and feel identical in every way except in the way they bounce. One ball bounces like a super ball while the other ball is “dead.” The secret is in the type of material used to make the balls. The ball that bounces is made out of a natural rubber that is highly resilient and very elastic – it’s great for bouncing. The “no bounce” ball is made out of a special type of rubber (usually butyl rubber) that absorbs the kinetic energy of the falling ball instead of changing it into potential energy.

For more on the science of Bounce No Bounce Balls and other Science Toys, visit the experiment.