Question

In one experiment, a student rolls a 2 kg ball such that it collides with a wall with a force of 10,000 N. In a second experiment, the student rolls a 5 kg ball such that it collides with the wall at a force of 5000 N. In both experiments, the balls bounce back from the wall and eventually come to rest. Which of the following statements is true regarding the force that the wall exerts on each ball?
a. The wall exerts the same force on both balls since they both bounce back from the same wall in both experiments.
b. The wall exerts a greater force on the 5 kg ball than on the 2 kg ball since a greater force is required to cause the heavier ball to bounce back from the wall.
c. The wall exerts a greater force on the 2 kg ball than on the 5 kg ball since the force from the wall on each ball is equal to the force that each ball exerts on the wall.
d. The answer cannot be determined without knowing the distance each ball rolls before coming to rest.

Answer 1

Answer:

(c) The wall exerts a greater force on the 2 kg ball than on the 5 kg ball since the force from the wall on each ball is equal to the force that each ball exerts on the wall.

Explanation:

According to Newton's third law of motion,"action and reaction are equal and opposite".

If a 2 kg ball exerts a force of 10,000 N on a wall, the wall will also exert a force of 10,000 N on the 2 kg ball but in opposite direction.

Similarly, If a 5 kg ball exerts a force of 5,000 N on a wall, the wall will also exert a force of 5,000 N on the 5 kg ball but in opposite direction.

Regardless of mass of the ball, the wall will exert equal force with which the ball collide with it.

Therefore, the wall exerts a greater force on the 2 kg ball than on the 5 kg ball since the force from the wall on each ball is equal to the force that each ball exerts on the wall.