Question

Consider two cases in which the same ball is thrown against a wall with the same initial velocity. In case A, the ball sticks to the wall and does not bounce.In Case B, the ball bounces back with the same speed that it came with.

A.)In which of the two cases is the change in momentum the largest?

1. Case A
2. Case B
3. Same for both cases

B.) Assuming that the time during which the momentum change takes place is approximately the same for these two cases, in which case is the larger average force involved?

1. Case A
2. Case B
3. Same for both cases

Answer 1

A. Momentum = m*V.

Case A: Change = 0 - mV = -mV.
Case B: Change = -mV - mV = -2mV.

Answer: Case B.

B. Case A: a1 = -mV/T.
Case B: a2 = -2mV/T.

a2/a1 = (-2mV/T)/-mV/T = 2
a2 = 2a1.

Answer: Case B.

Answer 2

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