When a rubber ball and a wooden ball are dropped from the same height and both undergo a bounce, the rubber ball is likely to bounce farther than the wooden ball. This behavior can be attributed to the difference in the materials and their properties.
Rubber balls have elastic properties, meaning they can deform under the influence of an external force and then return to their original shape. When a rubber ball hits the ground, it compresses and stores potential energy within it. As the ball rebounds, this stored energy is released, resulting in a significant transfer of kinetic energy that propels the ball upward. The elasticity of the rubber allows it to efficiently convert the energy of the impact into a rebound, resulting in a higher bounce.
On the other hand, wooden balls are generally less elastic than rubber balls. When a wooden ball hits the ground, it undergoes deformation as well, but due to the stiffness and lower elasticity of wood, a significant portion of the impact energy is dissipated as heat and sound rather than being efficiently converted into a rebound. As a result, the wooden ball tends to have a shorter bounce compared to the rubber ball.
However, it's important to note that the specific behavior of bouncing can also depend on various factors such as the composition, density, and shape of the balls, as well as the surface on which they bounce. These factors can influence the outcome and may lead to variations in the bounce height between different rubber and wooden balls.