Question: Does a Ping-Pong Ball Travel Faster in a Warm Room or a Cold Room?
Hi Greg
Your articles make great reading, as a coach I find them very helpful.
Can you answer this? One of my young players asked me if the ball travels faster in a warm room or a cold room, and why. I told him I would try to find out. Over to you.
Regards
Dave
Answer: Hi Dave,
This is an interesting question. While not being a physics guru, I do have an opinion on the matter - here are my thoughts.
I would think that the ball travels faster in a warm room than a cold room, for the following reasons:
- The air density will be less, giving less resistance to the ball.
- The rubbers on the bat will be warmer, increasing the catapult effect of the rubber due to a more flexible topsheet, and springier sponge due to the expanded gases in the sponge's cells.
- The gas in the inside of the ball should be warmer, increasing the pressure inside the ball and making it more bouncy.
- The players might be warmer, allowing them to hit harder!
