Impulse of a ball hitting the wall

  • Thread starter Thread starter miniradman
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Ball Impulse Wall
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the change in momentum of a 120g pool ball that hits a wall at 9 m/s and rebounds at 6 m/s at a 45-degree angle. The initial calculations suggested an impulse of 10.8166 N, but there was uncertainty about the accuracy. Participants emphasized the importance of breaking down the velocities into orthogonal components and multiplying by mass to find the correct impulse. Clarifications were provided on how to handle vector directions when calculating momentum changes. The conversation highlights the need for careful vector addition and subtraction in momentum calculations.
miniradman
Messages
191
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Calculate the change in momentum of a 120g pool ball hitting at 9m/s and rebounding at 6m/s. It rebounds at an equal and opposite angle of 45 degrees.

Pi = 9m/s
Pf = 6m/s
angle = 45 degrees

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I have done all my calcs in the picture below which shows a diagram

I have concluded that the impluse was 10.8166 N, somehow I don't think I have done this right
 

Attachments

  • fdgthyj.jpg
    fdgthyj.jpg
    6 KB · Views: 636
Physics news on Phys.org
miniradman said:
I have concluded that the impluse was 10.8166 N, somehow I don't think I have done this right
Well, you're right that you're wrong. Given that the impulse I = m\Delta v, consider breaking the velocities into orthagonal components. Which component will the normal force change? :wink:
 
welcome to pf!

hi miniradman! welcome to pf! :wink:
miniradman said:
I have done all my calcs in the picture below which shows a diagram

I have concluded that the impluse was 10.8166 N, somehow I don't think I have done this right

looks fine :smile:, except that you've not yet multiplied by the mass :wink:

(and do you need to specify the direction of the https://www.physicsforums.com/library.php?do=view_item&itemid=340" also?)
 
Last edited by a moderator:


tiny-tim said:
hi miniradman! welcome to pf! :wink:


looks fine :smile:, except that you've not yet multiplied by the mass :wink:

(and do you need to specify the direction of the https://www.physicsforums.com/library.php?do=view_item&itemid=340" also?)
I don't think so...

Also, I have trouble remembering which one to flip around and make a negative? Is there are certain rule of guideline I have to follow to do this?

Thanks ;)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
hi miniradman! :smile:
miniradman said:
I have trouble remembering which one to flip around and make a negative? Is there are certain rule of guideline I have to follow to do this?

i'm not sure i follow :confused:

if the momentum before is p = (a,b), and the momentum after is q = (c,d),

then the change in momentum is q - p = (c-a,d-b) :wink:
 
What I did, was I flipped the 6m/s around so it becomes -6m/s (beause I took them way like vectors). Because it is on an angle of 45 degrees, I added the vectors head to tail

is this right?
 
hi miniradman! :wink:

yes, you can either subtract the original vectors, tail-to-tail, or flip one so that it becomes adding, which is head-to-tail :smile:
 
awesome! Thanks mate ;)
 
Back
Top