Question about the average force?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating average force during an elastic collision, specifically when a ball is thrown at a wall. It highlights that while the change in momentum (ΔP) is zero for the system as a whole, a force is still exerted on the wall. The key point is that the momentum change should account for the reversal of direction, resulting in a total change of momentum of 2*P. This emphasizes the importance of considering both magnitude and direction in vector quantities. Understanding these principles is crucial for accurately determining forces in elastic collisions.
zeromodz
Messages
244
Reaction score
0
Okay we all know that the average force equation is

ΔP = FΔT
F = ΔP / ΔT


Say I throw a ball at the wall and it has and the collision is elastic. Therefore, the initial momentum equals the final momentum and therefore.

ΔP = 0

I still know that there is a force exerted on the wall, but how do I find it if ΔP = 0?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Don't forget that momentum is a vector quantity. So if it hits the wall with momentum magnitude P, the change in momentum is 2*P , to account for the reverse in direction.

Hope this helps,

Simon
 
Thread 'Is there a white hole inside every black hole?'

Thread 'Is there a white hole inside every black hole?'

This is what I am thinking. How much feasible is it? There is a white hole inside every black hole The white hole spits mass/energy out continuously The mass/energy that is spit out of a white hole drops back into it eventually. This is because of extreme space time curvature around the white hole Ironically this extreme space time curvature of the space around a white hole is caused by the huge mass/energy packed in the white hole Because of continuously spitting mass/energy which keeps...
View full post »

Thread 'Is Gravity an entropic property like Surface Tension'

Why do two separately floating objects in a liquid "attract" each other ?? What if gravity is an emergent property like surface tension ? What if they both are essentially trying to *minimize disorder at the interfaces — where non-aligned polarized particles are forced to mix with each other* What if gravity is an emergent property that is trying to optimize the entropy emerging out of spin aligned quantum bits
View full post »

Similar threads

I How do I correctly integrate the formula for deriving Posseuille's Law?
Replies
26
Views
4K
Force exerted by one molecule on container wall
Replies
1
Views
6K
Average force and angle, collision problem
Replies
23
Views
3K
Impulse Problem- time-average of normal force when running
Replies
1
Views
2K
Work done during a collision -- Change in Kinetic Energy & change in Momentum
Replies
1
Views
2K
Understanding Force and Momentum in Angular Elastic Collisions
Replies
5
Views
1K
Linear momentum problem with n particles
Replies
10
Views
2K
Is Impulse the anti derivative of momentum?
Replies
1
Views
7K
Average force exerted on a baseball
Replies
3
Views
2K
Forces involved in egg-drop experiment: 25 Newtons to Break an Egg?
Replies
7
Views
9K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top