Soccer impulse problem

1. Oct 26, 2005

Punchlinegirl

Recent studies have raised concern about heading' in youth soccer (i.e., hitting the ball with the head). A soccer player heads' a size 3 ball deflecting it by 54.0°, and keeps its speed of 10.30 m/s constant. A size 3 ball has a mass of approximately 2.000 kg. What is the magnitude of the impulse which the player must impart to the ball?
I started by finding the change in velocity.
In the x-direction:
the final velocity= cos 54 * 10.30 * 2.000 = 12.1 m/s
the inital velocity = 10.30 * 2.000 = 8.3 m/s
Change in velocity in x= 3.8 m/s
In the y-direction:
the final velocity= sin 54 * 10.30 * 2.000= 16.6
the initial velocity= 0 m/s
change in velocity in y= 16.6 m/s
Then i used the pythagorean theorem.
$$sq rt 16.6^2 + 3.8^2$$ = 17.0 m/s
I multiplied this by the mass 2.000 to get the impulse= 34.0 kg*m/s
This wasn't right.. can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong?thanks

2. Oct 26, 2005

daniel_i_l

The impulse is the change in momentum. So first you have to find the new speed vector (the new x and y speeds, multiply (the sqrt of them squared as you did) by mass to get the momentum vector (then get the new x and y momentum components with trig), and then subtract the initial momentum vector from the knew one (x-axis minus x-axis and y=axis minus y-axis), then find the size of the new vector to get the impulse.
-Also, when you calculated the velocities, why did you multiply by 2.000?
you found the new momentum, not the impulse.

3. Oct 26, 2005

Punchlinegirl

I'm sorry but I really don't follow you. I think you're saying what I did was right but it's momentum not impulse. I'm not sure how to get the initial momentum.

4. Oct 26, 2005

Staff: Mentor

The speed doesn't change, just the direction. Find the change in momentum by subtracting the initial momentum vector from the final momentum vector. Then find the magnitude of that change, which is all you need. (Hint: Pretend the initial momentum is in the +x direction.)

5. Oct 26, 2005

daniel_i_l

You get the initial momentum by simply multiplying the speed by the mass, as Doc AI said, all of the initial speed is along the x-axis.

6. Oct 26, 2005

Punchlinegirl

I see what I was doing wrong. Thanks