Question

A large metal ball is at rest, and a small rubber ball is moving at a high velocity. When they collide, the momentum of the small ball decreases. What happens to the momentum of the large metal ball? (1 point)

it stayed the same.

it increases.

it decreases.

it stayed at zero.

Answer 1

When the small rubber ball collides with the large metal ball, the momentum of the small ball decreases due to the collision. According to the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum of a closed system (where no external forces are acting) remains constant.

Since the large metal ball was initially at rest, it had zero momentum before the collision. When the small ball collides with it, it transfers some of its momentum to the large metal ball. As a result, while the momentum of the small ball decreases, the momentum of the large metal ball increases by the same amount, ensuring that the total momentum of the system remains constant.

Thus, the correct answer is:

**it increases.**