Set a golf ball on top of a basketball. Then, let them fall together. The golf ball goes flying sky high!


Drop a basketball from shoulder height, and it bounces back up only to about your waist. Why? Some of the basketball's energy is lost as it hits the ground, squashes a little, then springs back. Now set a golf ball on the basketball, and let them fall. Pay attention to the basketball. It doesn't even bounce as high as before. Why not? It lost even more energy. Where did the energy go? To the golf ball! Even a little bit of energy from the basketball will make the golf ball go sailing!