A rubber ball is moving horizontally toward a rigid wall with a speed of

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials

Problem

0.25\,\text{kg}

rubber ball is moving horizontally toward a rigid wall with a speed of

8.0\,\text{m}\,\text{s}^{-1}

. During the collision with the wall the horizontal force exerted on the ball varies with time. The description of the force is as follows: the force starts at zero at the instant contact begins, rises linearly to a maximum value

F_{\max}

t = 2.0\times10^{-3}\,\text{s}

, then falls linearly back to zero at

t = 4.0\times10^{-3}\,\text{s}

. After contact ends, the ball rebounds straight back from the wall with a speed of

6.0\,\text{m}\,\text{s}^{-1}

. Assume the time dependence of the force is perfectly symmetric about

t = 2.0\times10^{-3}\,\text{s}

. (a) Calculate the magnitude of the impulse delivered to the ball during the collision. (b) Determine the numerical value of

F_{\max}

. (c) Compute the average magnitude of the force exerted on the ball during the contact interval.

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