Impulse of a falling ball under gravity onto a solid surface

AI Thread Summary
A 0.5-kg rubber ball is dropped from a height of 19.6 m and rebounds to a maximum height of 4.9 m after striking the sidewalk. The impulse due to the collision is calculated using the change in momentum formula, J = ΔP. The initial velocity before impact is determined to be 19.6 m/s, while the velocity after the rebound is 9.8 m/s. The impulse is initially calculated as 4.9 kg m/s, but the correct calculation considers the direction of velocities, leading to an impulse of 14.7 N.s. The discussion highlights the importance of correctly accounting for vector signs in momentum calculations.
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Homework Statement


A 0.5-kg rubber ball is dropped from rest a height of 19.6 m above the surface of the Earth. It strikes the sidewalk below
and rebounds up to a maximum height of 4.9 m. What is the magnitude of the impulse due to the collision with the sidewalk?

Homework Equations


J=\DeltaP


The Attempt at a Solution


mgh=.5mv2
v=\sqrt{}2gh

Just before collision:
v=\sqrt{}2*9.8*19.6
v=19.6 m/s

Just after collision:
v=\sqrt{}2*9.8*4.9
v=9.8 m/s

J=m(vafter-vbefore)=.5(9.8-19.6)=4.9 kg m/s

The answer is 14.7 N.s, so I'm not sure what I'm missing.
 
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Well velocity is a vector - is this how you would subtract them?
 


J=.5[9.8-(-19.6)]=14.7 kg m/s

Wow that was a stupid mistake, thanks!
 
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