Chapter 7, Problem 31A

When a racquet hits a tennis ball, action and reaction forces occur between the racquet and ball. What other action—reaction pair of forces occur for the ball both before and after interaction with the racquet? Neglect air resistance.

To determine

The action-reaction pair of forces occurring for the ball, before and after interaction with the racquet

Answer to Problem 31A

Before and after the interaction of the ball with the racquet, there is one action-reaction pair.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

According to the Newton's third law, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

When tennis ball interacted with the tennis racquet, the action force is considered the forward direction of the tennis ball. During that interaction, the reaction force occurswhen ball hits the racquet in the backward direction which is equal to the action force.

Now considering the scenario before and after of the interaction between the tennis ball and the racquet.

At the same moment Earth also pulls the tennis ball with same force as the weight of the tennis ball with the effect of gravitational pull. This force is considered as the downward force and also the action force. Similarly, the tennis ball also applying force on the earth whose magnitude is equal to the weight of the tennis ball. This force is considered as upward force or reaction force.

Conclusion:

Hence, there is one action- reaction pair present before and after of the interaction of tennis ball and the racquet.