Where Does the Momentum of a Rolling Ball Go?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the conservation of momentum in relation to a rolling ball and the effects of friction. It concludes that while friction affects the ball's motion, momentum is conserved overall, as stated by Newton's 3rd law. The momentum lost to friction is negligible and can be attributed to interactions with the Earth and surrounding environment, which ultimately do not result in a net loss of momentum. Therefore, momentum is not lost in the same manner as kinetic energy when a ball rolls to a stop.

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  • Understanding of Newton's 3rd law of motion
  • Basic principles of momentum conservation
  • Knowledge of kinetic energy concepts
  • Familiarity with frictional forces and their effects on motion
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  • Study the implications of Newton's laws in various physical scenarios
  • Explore the relationship between momentum and kinetic energy in collisions
  • Investigate the effects of friction on different surfaces and materials
  • Learn about conservation laws in physics, including angular momentum
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Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the principles of motion, momentum conservation, and the effects of friction in physical systems.

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If a heavy ball is rolling on a surface, it eventually stops due to the frictional force. Where does the momentum of that ball go? Is it lost to heat, or does it maybe cause the Earth to move a very small and unnoticeable amount?
 
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It causes the Earth to move a very small and unnoticeable amount. But you had to have moved the Earth a small and unnoticeable amount when you started the ball rolling so, this should just cancel that out roughly (the center of mass has shifted by a little bit in the process).
 
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So is momentum not lost to friction in the same way that kinetic energy is?
 
Scheuerf said:
So is momentum not lost to friction in the same way that kinetic energy is?

Friction is a force and as such changes the momentum of the ball. But Newton's 3rd law says every force has an equal and opposite reaction force so that momentum is conserved. You could perhaps lose a little bit of momentum to pieces of the ground chipping or to the surrounding air or something, but you would probably just lump those elements together into "Earth".
 
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Scheuerf said:
So is momentum not lost to friction in the same way that kinetic energy is?

No. Momentum is always conserved in any type of collision.
 

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