Question

A 2 kg rubber ball is thrown at a wall horizontally at 3 m/s, and bounces back the way it came at an equal speed. A 2 kg clay ball is also thrown at the same speed horizontally at the wall, but sticks to it upon hitting. [THE CLAY BALL / THE RUBBER BALL /NEITHER] (circle one) exerts a greater magnitude of impulse on the wall. Briefly explain (either in words or calculations)

Answer 1

Answer:

THE RUBBER BALL

Explanation:

From the question we are told that

      The mass of the rubber ball is $m_r = 2 \ kg$

      The  initial  speed of the rubber ball is  $u = 3 \ m/s$

      The final speed at which it bounces bank $v - 3 \ m/s$

      The mass of the clay ball  is  $m_c = 2 \ kg$

       The  initial  speed of the clay  ball is $u = 3 \ m/s$

       The final speed of the clay ball is  $v = 0 \ m/s$

Generally Impulse is mathematically represented as

       $I = \Delta p$

where $\Delta p$ is the change in the linear momentum so  

       $I = m(v-u)$

For the rubber  is  

        $I_r = 2(-3 -3)$

       $I_r = -12\ kg \cdot m/s$

=>     $|I_r| = 12\ kg \cdot m/s$

For the clay ball

       $I_c = 2(0-3)$

        $I_c = -6 \ kg\cdot \ m/s$

=>    $| I_c| = 6 \ kg\cdot \ m/s$

So from the above calculation the ball with the a higher magnitude of impulse is the rubber ball