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tofani
Oct25-04, 08:55 AM
THis is the Puzzle:
Hold a basketball in one hand, chest high. Hold a baseball in the other hand about two inches above the basketball. Drop them simultaneously onto a hard floor. The basketball will rebound and collide with the baseball above it. Estimate the rebound speed of the baseball? Assume that the basketball is three to four times heavier than the baseball.
The result will surprise you. Don't do this in the house!

Daaf
Oct25-04, 09:38 AM
This one requires 1 formula and 1 law. Use s = 0.5*a*t^2 to estimate the speed both balls will have (will be identical). Then use the law of conservation of momentum. The baseball will take over the basketball's momentum and the basketball will take over the baseball's momentum, effectively tripling or quadripling its speed.
Am I right on this one? Greets