Have you ever wondered why squash balls don't bounce very well when they're cold? It's because the rubber they're made of is very sensitive to temperature. When rubber gets warm, it contracts, which means it gets smaller. This brings the molecules in the rubber closer together, making the ball bounce more.
There are two main reasons why warm squash balls bounce better. Firstly, the rubber in the ball contracts when it's warm, which increases the restoring force of the polymer. This means the ball can bounce back into shape more easily. Secondly, as the temperature of the ball increases, the pressure inside the ball also increases. This makes the ball even bouncier.
Squash players often warm up the ball before a match by hitting it hard in a rally or by rubbing it with their shoe. This helps to increase the temperature of the ball quickly, making it bounce better. By doing this, players can get the best performance out of their squash ball.
