Ratio of Forces by from Tennis Serve?

[ztak07]

Homework Statement

During a tennis volley, a ball that arrives at a player at 40 m/s is struck by the racquet and returned at 40 m/s. The other player, realizing that the ball is out of bounds, catches it in her hand.

Assuming the time interval of contact is the same in both cases, compare the magnitude of the force exerted by the first player's racquet on the ball with the magnitude of the force exerted by the second player's hand on the ball.

FballOnRaqcuet/FballOnHand = ?

Homework Equations

Aren't these two values just equal? Does it not take the same amount of force to (from the hand) to stop the ball ?

The Attempt at a Solution

I said it was either 1 or -1 since the direction of the ball changed. Both of these are obviously wrong but I guess I don't really understand the question?

 

[BvU]

Hello Ztak,

Is there anything in your notes on this subject that relates to the situation described ?
In particular a relationship between force and speed (c.q. change in speed -- or momentum) ?

 

[jbriggs444]

Homework Equations

Aren't these two values just equal? Does it not take the same amount of force to (from the hand) to stop the ball ?

Does the racket stop the ball?