Initial Question: A rubber ball is dropped onto a ramp that is tilted at 20 degrees. A bounding ball obeys the "law of reflection," which says that the ball leaves the surface at the same angle it approached the surface. The ball's next bounce is 3.0 m to the right of its first bounce.
a.)What is the ball's rebound speed on its first bounce?
b.) What would have to the range (x-displacement) of the rubber ball if the angle of the inclination of the ramp were decreased? (would the range increase, decrease, or stay the same)
c.)What would happen to the range if the original situation were duplicated on a different planet where g is larger? (would the range increase, decrease, or stay the same)
I figured out the math in part a but I'm not sure about part b and c. If anyone could explain how those changes affect the range that would be great. Thank you in advance.
Your Answer: b. consider a mirror: if it were a light beam, wouldn't tilting it more make the light beam go further horizontal?
c. whatever the gain in velocity coming down before hitting the ramp, the same force reduces it going up. Range, remains the same.
My Response: For part b, I thought the range would decrease because you are decreasing the angle of inclination and therefore tilting it less?
Also, the answer for part c is not the "range remains the same", i thought it might be decrease, since a higher gravity would pull more on the ball and therefore reduce the range but I'm not entirely sure?
Thanks for your help.
2 answers