When you bounce a basketball on the floor, the ball bounces back up. Explain the forces that are involved in this action.

Question

The floor pushes on the player’s hands.
When the ball hits the floor, the ball pushes down against the floor and the floor pushes back against the ball.
The floor pushes against the ball.
The ball pushes against the floor.

which answer is correct

Answer 1

The correct explanation of the forces involved when a basketball bounces off the floor is:

When the ball hits the floor, the ball pushes down against the floor and the floor pushes back against the ball.

This statement highlights Newton's Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the basketball impacts the floor, it exerts a downward force on the floor; simultaneously, the floor exerts an equal and opposite force upward against the basketball, causing it to bounce back up.