Newton's 2nd Law Homework: Average Force of Tennis Ball

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the average force exerted by a tennis player on a tennis ball of mass 56.7 g, accelerated to 68.0 m/s over a distance of 0.0250 m. The relevant equations derived from Newton's 2nd Law include F = ma and the kinematic equation Vf^2 = Vi^2 + 2ad. Participants concluded that the acceleration can be determined using the kinematic equation, allowing for the calculation of force without needing the time variable. The average force can be computed directly once acceleration is established.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's 2nd Law (F = ma)
  • Familiarity with kinematic equations (Vf^2 = Vi^2 + 2ad)
  • Basic knowledge of mass and acceleration units (grams, meters per second)
  • Ability to perform unit conversions (grams to kilograms)
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to apply kinematic equations in various physics problems
  • Study the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration in different contexts
  • Explore examples of average force calculations in sports physics
  • Investigate the impact of external forces on projectile motion
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, particularly those focusing on mechanics and Newton's laws, as well as educators seeking to clarify concepts related to force and motion.

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Homework Statement


A tennis player strikes a tennis ball of mass 56.7 g when it is at the top of the toss, accelerating it to 68.0 m/s in a distance of 0.0250 m. What is the average force the player exerts on the ball? Ignore any other forces acting on the ball.


Homework Equations


f = ma
a = (f-mg)/m


The Attempt at a Solution


This problem was under Newton's 2nd law in my textbook and it didn't list any specific equations for average force. I found a few different equations online but I'm unsure on which one to use. Some of them include time and velocity. I'm just not sure on what equation to use for this. I'm guessing you may have to start with a velocity equation because the distance is in the problem?
 
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The force exerted by the player is the only force you need to worry about. First figure out the acceleration using kinematics. Then apply F = ma.
 
Would you also need to know the time or can you just find the acceleration by using Vf^2=Vi^2 +2ad ??
 

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