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)

Question

Responses

it stayed at zero.
it stayed at zero.

it increases.
it increases.

it stayed the same.
it stayed the same.

it decreases.

Answer 1

To determine what happens to the momentum of the large metal ball when it collides with the small rubber ball, we can apply the principle of conservation of momentum.

Before the collision, the large metal ball is at rest, so its momentum is zero. When the small rubber ball with high velocity collides with the large metal ball, it will impart some of its momentum to the metal ball.

If the momentum of the small rubber ball decreases after the collision, according to the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum of the system (the large ball and the small ball together) must remain constant. Therefore, the momentum that the small ball loses will be gained by the large metal ball.

Thus, the momentum of the large metal ball increases as it gains momentum from the small rubber ball.

The correct response is: it increases.