Why does a ball slow down faster on grass than on a gym floor?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does a ball slow down faster on grass than on a gym floor?

The Big Idea

Roll a ball on grass, and it stops quickly. Roll it on a gym floor, and it keeps going! Why the difference?

Pushing In

Step one: Pushing In. A rolling ball pushes into the surface and bends or squashes it a little. Soft grass bends and tangles, which takes more energy than rolling on a hard, smooth floor.

Bumping

Step two: Bumping. The ball also bumps along the tips of blades. It keeps losing speed to these small forces.

Resistance

Step three: Resistance. This is called rolling resistance. Wet or long grass slows the ball even more.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Slows a lot. Rolls far. In between. Slowest.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Tennis courts and golf greens are prepared carefully to control how balls roll. Grass bends and tangles. Hard floors roll far. Wet grass is slowest.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Roll the same ball across carpet. Roll it across a wood floor. Roll it across grass. Measure how far it goes each time. Which surface slowed it most?

Outro

A ball slows faster on grass because the soft blades bend and tangle, taking more energy than a hard floor. The ball also bumps along the blade tips. This rolling resistance is even greater on wet or long grass. Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! Share what you learned with someone at home, and see what they think! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!