Question

When a 0.622 kg basketball hits the floor, its velocity changes from 4.23 m/s down to 3.85 m/s up. If the ball was in contact with the floor for 0.0266 s, how much force did the floor exert on it?

Answer 1

when the ball hits the floor and bounces back the momentum of the ball changes.

the rate of change of momentum is the force exerted by the floor on it.

the equation for the force exerted is

f = rate of change of momentum

$f = \frac{mv - mu}{t}$

v is the final velocity which is - 3.85 m/s

u is initial velocity - 4.23 m/s

m = 0.622 kg

time is the impact time of the ball in contact with the floor - 0.0266 s

substituting the values

$f = \frac{0.622 kg (3.85 m/s - (-)4.23 m/s)}{0.0266}$

since the ball is going down, we take that as negative and ball going upwards as positive.

f = 189 N

the force exerted from the floor is 189 N