How Does Momentum Change When a Ball Bounces Off a Wall?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the change in momentum of a ball that bounces off a wall, specifically when it is rolled into the wall and returns at the same speed. Participants are exploring the implications of momentum as a vector quantity and the significance of direction in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to determine the change in momentum using the initial and final velocities. Questions are raised about the signs of the momentum values and how they relate to the direction of the ball's motion.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of the relationship between initial and final momentum, with some participants suggesting that the change in momentum is 2mv. Others are questioning the assumptions about the direction of velocity and how it affects the calculation.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the original velocity could be considered negative, leading to different interpretations of the momentum values. The discussion reflects a lack of consensus on the directionality of the momentum but acknowledges that the magnitudes remain the same regardless of the chosen positive direction.

yamugushi
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
1. Homework Statement
A ball is rolled into a wall and bounces back at the same speed, the change in momentum is?

2. Homework Equations
Ein = Eout

3. The Attempt at a Solution
I thought it was m(v) but I got it wrong (doing test corrections ATM)

Note I'm having trouble editing, so I made a new thread, I am not trying to spam.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If the velocity before impact is v, what is the velocity after impact?

(remember, velocity is a vector quantity, so direction is important)
 
So it's be -mv... but there aren't any negative answers:
I have
0
1.5
.5
2
and what I answered MV (all above are times MV as well)
 
yamugushi said:
So it's be -mv... but there aren't any negative answers:

So momentum before is mv, and momentum after is -mv, so that change in momentum is ?
 
2mv?
 
yamugushi said:
2mv?

is that one of the answers?
 
rock.freak667 said:
is that one of the answers?

yes, the answers were:
0mv
1mv
1.5mv
.5mv
2mv
 
Just to note:

The original velocity must have been negative. The initial momentum was P_1=-mv.
Following the bounce, the final momentum is P_2=mv.
Hence the positive answer: P2-P1=2mv
Either way the magnitudes are the same.
 
Winzer said:
Just to note:

The original velocity must have been negative. The initial momentum was P_1=-mv.
Following the bounce, the final momentum is P_2=mv.
Hence the positive answer: P2-P1=2mv
Either way the magnitudes are the same.

Yes the magnitudes are the same, but it didn't have to be negative. It depends on the direction you choose as positive.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
5K
Replies
14
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
6K