Super Ball

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/super-ball

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name of material?Polybutadiene-based synthetic rubber (Zectron)
2. What is the key chemical process?Sulfur vulcanization at 165°C (329°F)
3. Why does the Super Ball bounce so high?It is made from a rubber that is very elastic and strong, thanks to special ingredients like silica and zinc oxide, and it is shaped under high pressure and heated with sulfur.
4. How is a Super Ball made?Scientists mix special chemicals, heat the mix with sulfur at 165°C, and press it into a ball at 3,500 psi so it becomes dense and bouncy.

Polymer Science: The study of large molecules (polymers) and their properties, including plastics and rubbers.
Coefficient of Restitution (COR): A quantitative measure of the elasticity of a collision, indicating energy retained.
Cross-linking: The formation of chemical bonds between polymer chains, increasing strength and elasticity.