Question

Summarize why the force required to move a ping pong ball is less than the force required to move a bowling ball

Answer 1

The force required to move a ping pong ball is less than the force needed to move a bowling ball primarily due to differences in mass and inertia. A ping pong ball is significantly lighter than a bowling ball, which means it has less inertia, making it easier to accelerate. According to Newton's second law of motion, force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma), so for the same amount of acceleration, a less massive object like a ping pong ball requires less force to initiate movement.

Additionally, the surface area and shape can also play a role in how easily each ball can be moved through a medium (like air), but the primary factor is the difference in mass.