How Do You Calculate Force in a Momentum Problem?

  • Thread starter Thread starter street
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Momentum Student
AI Thread Summary
To calculate the force exerted on the wall by the ball, first determine the change in momentum using the equation ∆p = m∆v, where m is the mass of the ball and ∆v is the change in velocity. The ball's mass is 2.5 kg, with an initial velocity of 8 m/s and a final velocity of -7 m/s (since it rebounds). The impulse-momentum theorem states that F∆t = ∆p, allowing you to solve for force as F = ∆p/∆t. With a contact time of 0.2 seconds, you can substitute the values to find the force. Understanding these concepts is crucial for solving momentum problems in physics.
street
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hi. I just recently switched into a physics course midyear, and I really don't know what's going on. Help with a few of these questions would be greatly appreciated.

Homework Statement


A 2.5 kg ball strikes a wall at 8 m/s and rebounds at 7m/s. The ball is in contact with the wall for 0.2 seconds. What is the force on the wall?


Homework Equations


Im really not sure. Is this it?
F?t=?p

F(1)?t=m(1)v(1,f) - m(1)v(1,i)

F(2)?t=m(2)v(2,f) - m(2)v(2,i)

The Attempt at a Solution



I'm not sure how to apply that information into the equations, and I'm not even sure if the equations are right.

Please help
 
Physics news on Phys.org
street said:
I'm not sure how to apply that information into the equations, and I'm not even sure if the equations are right.

Please help

I don't see why you introduced all those 'initial' and 'final indices', since the only thing you have to know and apply here is that impulse equals change in momentum. You know the definition of impulse, and you know the initial and final (if you like it better) momentum.
 
F∆t =∆p ?

I still don't understand how to do it.
 
street said:
F∆t =∆p ?

I still don't understand how to do it.

Yep. and ∆p=m∆v

So, F∆t=m∆v
Finding F... F= m∆v/∆t
 
street said:
F∆t =∆p ?

I still don't understand how to do it.

Define the final and initial momentum. The change in momentum is represented by the difference between the final and initial momentum.
 
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Back
Top