When a basketball is bounced on the floor, several forces come into play based on Newton's Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Here’s an explanation of the forces involved:
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Impact Force: When the basketball makes contact with the floor, it applies a force downwards due to its weight and the velocity it has at the moment of impact. This is the action force.
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Reaction Force: According to Newton's Third Law, the floor pushes back against the basketball with an equal and opposite force (the reaction force). This upward force from the floor is what causes the basketball to bounce back.
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Normal Force: The force exerted by the floor on the basketball is called the normal force. This force acts perpendicular to the surface of the floor and is responsible for the rebound of the ball. The greater the impact force (which depends on the ball's speed and mass), the greater the normal force will be, resulting in a higher bounce.
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Gravity: While all of this is happening, gravity also acts on the basketball, continually pulling it down toward the Earth. Once the ball is released and starts to fall, its potential energy converts to kinetic energy, and when it hits the floor, the energy is transformed back into potential energy as it bounces upwards.
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Other Forces: There may also be small amounts of energy lost to deformation of the ball and the floor upon impact, along with sound energy produced during the collision. Additionally, the player’s hands apply a force on the ball when dribbling or bouncing, but in the context of the action of the ball on the floor, the focus is mainly on the forces between the ball and the floor.
In summary, when the basketball hits the floor, it exerts a downward force; the floor then exerts an upward normal force in reaction, causing the ball to bounce back.
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