A tennis ball of mass 58 g travels horizontally towards a rigid wall at 25 m s (take…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
A tennis ball of mass 58 g travels horizontally towards a rigid wall at 25 m s−1 (take the rightward direction as positive). After striking the wall, it rebounds in the opposite direction at 20 m s−1. The time of contact between the ball and the wall is 0.06 s.
Answer the following questions.
(i) Taking rightward as positive, write the initial and final momenta of the ball (include proper signs).
(ii) Calculate the change in momentum of the ball.
(iii) Determine the magnitude and direction of the average force exerted by the wall on the ball.
(iv) State the magnitude and direction of the force exerted by the ball on the wall and name the law that supports your answer.