You drop a steel ball and a clay ball, both of the same mass, from the same distance. The steel ball strikes the ground and rebounds with almost the same speed. The clay ball strikes the ground and sticks. Assume the collisions occur over roughly the same amount of time. Which ball exerted a greater force on the ground?
You drop a steel ball and a clay ball, both of the same mass, from the same distance. The steel ball strikes the ground and rebounds with almost the same speed. The clay ball strikes the ground and sticks. Assume the collisions occur over roughly the same amount of time. Which ball exerted a greater force on the ground? Select the correct answer with the best explanation.
A. The two exert the same force. Since they collide with the same initial momentum, they will exert the
same force.
B. The clay ball exerts the greater force. Since it starts with some momentum and ends with no momen- tum, it undergoes a greater change in momentum than the steel ball, which rebounds with the same momentum (no change).
C. The clay ball exerts the greater force. All of its energy is transferred to the floor, whereas the steel
ball rebounds with the same kinetic energy, doing no work on the floor.
D. The steel ball exerts the greater force. Since it starts with some momentum and it reverses the direction of its momentum, it undergoes twice the change in momentum as the clay ball, which starts with the same momentum and ends with no momentum.
E. The steel ball exerts the greater force. It rebounds with the same speed, so it loses no kinetic energy.
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 4 steps
