Two 1 kg balls moving at 10 m/s hit a wood wall, each losing momentum which is transferred to the wall as a result of the collision. One ball is made of clay and sticks to the wall. The other is made of rubber and bounces backward at 10 m/s. Which one transfers more momentum to the wall? Why?

Answer 1

Before the collision:
Clay ball: M*V = 1*10 = 10 kg-m/s.
Rubber ball: M*V = 1*10 = 10kg-m/s.

After the collision:
Clay ball: M*V = 1*0 = 0 kg-m/s.
Rubber ball: = M*V = 1*(-10) = -10 kg-m/s.

a. The clay ball transferred the most momentum to the wall.
b. Because it gave up all of it's momentum to the wall; the rubber ball bounced off the wall with the same momentum it had before the collision.