Storyclover
Storyclover
On a bright Saturday morning, Maya practiced dribbling in the driveway. She wanted the orange ball to give her one neat bounce before it reached the hoop.
Why Does a Ball Bounce Back Instead of Staying Flat?A ball bounces because it squashes when it hits the ground, then springs back to its shape and pushes itself upward.
1. On a bright Saturday morning, Maya practiced dribbling in the driveway. She wanted the orange ball to give her one neat bounce before it reached the hoop.
2. Maya pushed the ball down with one hand. It met the hard ground with a plump little squash, then popped back toward her palm.
3. Maya caught it against her hip and stared at the round rubber ball. Why did it bounce back instead of staying flat?
4. She pressed the ball against the driveway with both hands. The rubber bent inward, but when she eased her hands away, it became round again.
5. Maya dropped the ball from her knees and watched closely. At the very bottom of the bounce, the ball was wider and flatter than before.
6. The squash was not a mistake. The rubber had been squeezed by the hard ground, like a tiny spring waiting to open.
7. As the rubber sprang back to its round shape, it pushed on the ground. The ground pushed back, and up went the ball.
8. Maya tried again and tapped the ball neatly toward the hoop. She grinned when it gave one tidy bounce.
9. A ball bounces because it squashes when it hits the ground, then springs back to its shape and pushes itself upward.
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