Bouncy ball facts for kids
A bouncy ball or rubber ball is a fun toy that's usually small and round. It's made from a special material that's very stretchy, called elastic. This elastic material lets the ball bounce high when it hits a hard surface. When you throw a bouncy ball or drop it, it keeps most of its energy. This energy makes it bounce back up with a lot of its original power!
What are Spaldeens?
Spaldeens are a type of bouncy rubber ball. They are about the size of a tennis ball and are often pink. The name "Spaldeen" comes from the company that made them, Spalding. These balls have been made since the 1930s and are still popular today.
Spaldeens were very important for many American street games, like stickball. Kids used them for all sorts of outdoor play. Other companies also made similar balls, like the Pensie Pinkie.
Superballs and Their Amazing Bounce
A Superball, sometimes called a power ball, is a bouncy ball made from a special kind of rubber. This rubber was invented in 1964 and is called Zectron. Superballs are known for their incredible bounce!
When you drop a Superball from a certain height, it bounces almost all the way back up. This is because it has a very high "coefficient of restitution," which is a fancy way of saying it's super bouncy. The Wham-O toy company first sold these balls as "Super Ball," and that name is still their trademark. Superballs are often smaller than Spaldeens.
Other Cool Bouncy Balls
There are many other types of bouncy balls out there!
- Skyball is a brand of hollow bouncy ball. It's filled with a mix of helium and compressed air, which the makers say gives it a really great bounce.
- Nerf balls, which first came out in 1970, are also small balls that bounce. However, they don't bounce as high as a typical Superball because they are softer.
- You can find bouncy balls with all sorts of designs, like baseballs, basketballs, or soccer balls. Many companies make these.
- Because they are inexpensive, bouncy balls with company logos are sometimes given away as promotional items.
- Some bouncy balls can even light up! These are called glow balls. They might glow using special chemicals or small LED lights that turn on when the ball moves.
- People sometimes make their own bouncy balls at home. They can be made from many rubber bands, or from a mix of borax, glue, and cornstarch.
- Bouncy balls are also often used by people who enjoy juggling.
