How would you test the notion that a steel ball is more elastic than a rubber ball?
Interesting question. But you have to be more specific:
Do you mean more elastic in the sense of higher percentage of the energy returned
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/elacol.html
or more elastic in the sense that it can deform further yet still return to its original form?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastic_limit
Steel is more elastic in the first sense, but rubber is in the second.
To show the energy loss, take a ball of steel and a ball of rubber. Drop them onto a surface from the same height and let them bounce once or twice. Measure the height they reach on the Nth trip back up. The steel will bounce higher, showing it has lost less energy.
If you are concerned about air resistance, do the experiment in a vacuum.
BTW, this is why railroads use steel wheels - they have less traction than rubber wheels, but since they lose less energy in rolling friction, they are cheaper to run.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_friction
 |
 Vintage Red Brushed Steel Parker Window Jotter Ball Point Pen w Advertising $8.00 Time Remaining: 2h 36m |
 very beautiful parker classic gold slim ball pen stainless steel new very rare $29.00 Time Remaining: 4h 7m |
 Parker ball pen vector stainless steel chrome trim CT no box no papers gift new $9.99 Time Remaining: 5h 4m |
 Vintage Red Brushed Steel Parker Window Jotter Ball Point Pen w Advertising $5.00 Time Remaining: 5h 30m |
 Parker gold ball pen vector stainless steel no box papers gift new $14.00 Time Remaining: 5h 31m |
 very beautiful parker classic gold trim ball pen stainless steel new jotter $16.01 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 5h 35m |
 Parker ball pen vector stainless steel gold trim GT no box no papers gift new $9.99 Time Remaining: 6h 21m Buy It Now for only: $12.00 |
 Parker jotter ball pen stainless steel no box new $7.95 Time Remaining: 6h 22m |
 Parker jotter ball pen gold stainless steel no box new $15.50 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 17m |
 HARO all steel ball point pen in near mint condition $19.00 Time Remaining: 1d 22m Buy It Now for only: $19.00 |
 Parker Classic Stainless Steel Ball Pen $12.99 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 58m |
 Parker Arrow Stainless Steel Ball Pen working $19.99 Time Remaining: 1d 2h 4m |
 Parker Stainless Steel Classic Ball Point Pen New In Box $29.99 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 5m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 VINTAGE PARKER ARROW BALL POINT PEN GMC ADVERTISING BRUSHED STEEL + BOX $7.95 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 6h 50m |
 Vintage Burgundy Brushed Steel Parker Jotter Ball Point Pen $2.00 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 31m |
 Rare Vtg Parker Jotter Flighter Die Hard Adv Stainless Steel Ball Point Pen $25.52 Time Remaining: 1d 15h 35m |
 Parker Classic Stainless Steel Ball Pen Gold Trim PARKER LOGO ON CAP NEW $79.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 30m Buy It Now for only: $79.99 |
 jinhao 185 Stainless steel silver Mesh grid Ball Point Pen NEW $0.99 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 20m |
 Parker Calendar Ball Point Click Pen Blue and Steel in Box Arrow Clip Vintage $38.95 Time Remaining: 2d 11h 50m Buy It Now for only: $38.95 |
 jinhao 031 Stainless steel silver clip Ball Point Pen NEW $0.99 Time Remaining: 2d 14h 12m |
 MONT BLANC NOBLESSE BALL POINT PEN MATTE STEEL $5.50 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 4d 56m |
 Parker Jotter Stainless Steel Desk Ball Pen working $42.99 Time Remaining: 4d 1h 17m Buy It Now for only: $42.99 |
 Cross Pen Ball Point Pen Steel Blue Sport AT0082 24 Very Nice $25.00 Time Remaining: 4d 2h 33m Buy It Now for only: $25.00 |
 Sheaffers Imperial brushed steel ball pen with decoration engraved ring good co $9.00 Time Remaining: 4d 3h 47m |
 Aurora brushed steel ball pen near mint include a company imprinit $9.00 Time Remaining: 4d 4h 7m |
 AURORA MARCO POLO BALL POINT PEN STAINLESS STEEL BODY BLACK ENAMEL $120.00 Time Remaining: 4d 7h 33m Buy It Now for only: $120.00 |
 Vint Burgundy Brushed Steel Parker Window Jotter Ball Pt Pen w Phillips 66 $6.50 Time Remaining: 4d 10h 10m |
 Ballogtaf Nordica Made in Sweden Stainless Steel Ball Point Pen $6.90 Time Remaining: 4d 21h 6m Buy It Now for only: $29.00 |
 Sheaffer Ball Point Pen in Stainless Steel with Rubber Grip $4.99 Time Remaining: 5d 11h 58m |
 WATERMAN HEMISPHERE BALL POINT PEN STAINLESS STEEL NEW Listing 2 $26.00 Time Remaining: 5d 13h 29m Buy It Now for only: $28.60 |
 Parker Jotter Ball Point Pen Medium Point Stainless Steel $8.89 Time Remaining: 5d 17h 37m Buy It Now for only: $8.89 |
 Parker Stainless Steel and Black Desk Ball Pen $39.99 Time Remaining: 5d 23h 45m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 |
 Parker Stainles Steel Jotter ball pen $7.89 Time Remaining: 5d 23h 51m Buy It Now for only: $7.89 |
 VINTAGE Parker INSIGNIIA Stainless Steel Ball Point VG EX $7.95 Time Remaining: 6d 12h 15m Buy It Now for only: $12.50 |
 jinhao 031 Stainless steel silver clip Ball Point Pen NEW $6.58 Time Remaining: 6d 13h 54m Buy It Now for only: $6.58 |
 Brand New Movado Radius Steel SLIM Elliptica Ball Point Pen $62.50 Time Remaining: 6d 14h 23m Buy It Now for only: $62.50 |
 Brand New Movado Radius Steel Elliptica Ball Point Pen $92.50 Time Remaining: 6d 14h 23m Buy It Now for only: $92.50 |
 Brand New Movado Stainless Steel X Elliptica Ball Point Pen $82.50 Time Remaining: 6d 14h 23m Buy It Now for only: $82.50 |
 VINTAGE STAINLESS STEEL PARKER BALL POINT PEN $49.99 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 27m Buy It Now for only: $49.99 |
 VINTAGE STAINLESS STEEL PARKER BLUE BALL POINT PEN $49.99 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 27m Buy It Now for only: $49.99 |
 2 VINTAGE STAINLESS STEEL PARKER BALL POINT PENS $49.99 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 27m Buy It Now for only: $49.99 |
 MONTBLANC ball point pen in full steel black perfect slim design $169.00 Time Remaining: 6d 16h 36m Buy It Now for only: $169.00 |
 MONTBLANC ellegant slim BALL POINT PEN in all metal Stainless Steel $119.00 Time Remaining: 6d 16h 42m Buy It Now for only: $119.00 |
 Vintage PARKER 50 FALCON SS Steel Flighter Ball Point Pen $75.00 Time Remaining: 7d 6h 26m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |
 CROSS APOGEE FROSTY STEEL BALL POINT PEN NEW IN GIFT BOX $85.00 Time Remaining: 7d 10h 25m Buy It Now for only: $85.00 |
 WATERMAN HEMISPHERE STAINLESS STEEL BALL PEN NEW IN BOX $50.00 Time Remaining: 8d 1h 50m Buy It Now for only: $50.00 |
 Parker Classic Stainless Steel Gold Trim Ball Pen $39.99 Time Remaining: 8d 11h 30m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 |
 Parker Jotter Ball Point Pen Black Ink Medium Point Ballpoint Stainless Steel $12.95 Time Remaining: 8d 15h 38m Buy It Now for only: $12.95 |
 Parker Arrow Stainless Steel Ball Pen Set Ronrico Rum $29.99 Time Remaining: 8d 19h 3m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 NEW OLD STOCK PELIKAN STEEL BALL PEN $132.00 Time Remaining: 8d 23h 59m Buy It Now for only: $132.00 |
 NOS Nina Ricci Stainless Steel Fashion Enamel Ball Point Pen w Box $115.00 Time Remaining: 9d 4h 24m Buy It Now for only: $115.00 |
 VINTAGE BEAUTIFUL LUXOR BALL POINT PEN STAINLESS STEEL AND PLASTIC 429 $14.99 Time Remaining: 9d 5h 38m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 VINTAGE BEAUTIFUL SCRIPTO 100 BALL POINT PEN STAINLESS STEEL AND PLASTIC 430 $19.99 Time Remaining: 9d 5h 39m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
 VINTAGE LUXURY STAINLESS STEEL BALL POINT PENCHROMATICUSA $45.00 Time Remaining: 9d 7h 47m Buy It Now for only: $45.00 |
 Parker Classic Stainless Steel Ball Pen $24.99 Time Remaining: 9d 12h 23m Buy It Now for only: $24.99 |
 VINTAGE UNITED KINGDOM STAINLESS STEEL PLASTIC PARKER INK WRITING BALL POINT PEN $14.99 Time Remaining: 10d 9m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 Parker Stainless Steel Flighter Jotter Ball Pen 1981 Royal Wedding $69.99 Time Remaining: 10d 9h 26m Buy It Now for only: $69.99 |
 Parker Classic Stainless Steel Ball Pen Set $34.99 Time Remaining: 11d 37m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 |
 jinhao 185 Stainless steel silver Mesh grid Ball Point Pen NEW $9.98 Time Remaining: 11d 14h 4m Buy It Now for only: $9.98 |
 VINTAGE GERMAN SLIM LINE SENATOR BALL POINT PEN STAINLESS STEEL 293 $34.99 Time Remaining: 12d 6h 57m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 |
 PARKER Vector Stainless Steel CT Ball Point Pen Boxed $19.66 Time Remaining: 12d 23h 20m Buy It Now for only: $19.66 |
 Parker International Stainless Steel Ball Pen Gold Trim $49.99 Time Remaining: 13d 7h 57m Buy It Now for only: $49.99 |
 Vintage Parker Stainless Steel Ball Pen UK Made $19.99 Time Remaining: 14d 1h 44m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
 PARKER Frontier Stainless Steel CT Ball Pen New Boxed $16.71 Time Remaining: 14d 22h 10m Buy It Now for only: $16.71 |
 PARKER VECTOR S S STAINLESS STEEL BALL PEN + BOX ++ PAPER MINT NEW IN BOX $22.00 Time Remaining: 15d 42m Buy It Now for only: $22.00 |
 VINTAGE LUXURY STAINLESS STEEL BALL POINT PENLANCE $45.00 Time Remaining: 15d 7h 22m Buy It Now for only: $45.00 |
 BALL POINT PEN MONTBLANC MEISTERSTUCK DOUE STAINSTEEL $490.00 Time Remaining: 15d 8h 35m Buy It Now for only: $490.00 |
 VINTAGE PARKER SILVER TONE BALL POINT PEN WITH BOX STAMPED ATLAS STEEL $39.99 Time Remaining: 16d 4h 41m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 |
 Parker Classic Stainless Steel GT Ball Pen Set $79.99 Time Remaining: 16d 10h 38m Buy It Now for only: $79.99 |
 PARKER IM ball point pen BLACK Steel tip Black ink $12.80 Time Remaining: 16d 11h 59m Buy It Now for only: $12.80 |
 WATERMAN EXPERT III STAINLESS STEEL CHROME TRIM BALL POINT PEN SUPERB BEAUTIFUL $123.00 Time Remaining: 16d 18h 2m Buy It Now for only: $123.00 |
 WATERMAN CARENE ULTRA MARINE BLUE STEEL BALL POINT PEN $157.00 Time Remaining: 16d 18h 2m Buy It Now for only: $157.00 |
 PARKER SONNET II STAINLESS STEEL CHROME TRIM BALL POINT PEN SUPERB BEAUTIFUL $69.00 Time Remaining: 16d 18h 35m Buy It Now for only: $69.00 |
 Ball Point Pen Crafted in Maple Wood and Stainless Steel Hand Made in the USA $75.00 Time Remaining: 17d 8h 33m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |
 Ball Point Pen Crafted in Maple Wood and Stainless Steel Hand Made in the USA $75.00 Time Remaining: 17d 8h 42m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |
 Ball Point Pen 003 in Walnut Wood and Stainless Steel Hand Made in the USA $75.00 Time Remaining: 17d 8h 52m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |