Two tennis balls and impluse

In summary, two identical tennis balls thrown at the same speed experienced different impulses when in contact with a building - one bouncing back at half its original speed, and the other continuing in the same direction at half its original speed after smashing a window. This is due to their different changes in velocity, as determined by the equation for impulse.
  • #1
lch20yy
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0

Homework Statement


two students throw identical tennis balls towards a building at the same speed. one ball strikes the wall, bouncing back at half its original speed. the other ball smashes a window and continues in the same direction at half its original speed. did the two tennis balls experience the same impulse when in contact with the wall and the window? justify your answer using principles of physics


Homework Equations



imoluse=m(△V )

The Attempt at a Solution



i think the balls experienced different impulse, if the ball is going in a postive direction, as it bounces back towards to the negative direction, its ΔV would be different with the ball continuely going in the postive direction.

does my answer make sense
 
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  • #2
lch20yy said:

Homework Statement


two students throw identical tennis balls towards a building at the same speed. one ball strikes the wall, bouncing back at half its original speed. the other ball smashes a window and continues in the same direction at half its original speed. did the two tennis balls experience the same impulse when in contact with the wall and the window? justify your answer using principles of physics


Homework Equations



imoluse=m(△V )

The Attempt at a Solution



i think the balls experienced different impulse, if the ball is going in a postive direction, as it bounces back towards to the negative direction, its ΔV would be different with the ball continuely going in the postive direction.

does my answer make sense

That makes perfect sense!
 

1. What is impulse in the context of two tennis balls?

Impulse is the change in momentum of an object over a period of time. In the context of two tennis balls, impulse refers to the force and duration of the interaction between the two balls during a collision.

2. How does impulse affect the motion of two tennis balls?

Impulse affects the motion of two tennis balls by changing their momentum. When the two balls collide, they exert a force on each other, resulting in a change in momentum and thus altering their motion.

3. Is the impulse the same for both tennis balls in a collision?

Yes, according to Newton's third law of motion, the impulse is the same for both tennis balls in a collision. This means that the force and duration of the interaction between the two balls are equal and opposite.

4. What factors can affect the impulse between two tennis balls?

The factors that can affect the impulse between two tennis balls include the mass and velocity of the balls, as well as the angle and duration of the collision. Additionally, external forces such as friction and air resistance can also impact the impulse.

5. How is impulse related to the concept of conservation of momentum?

Impulse is closely related to the concept of conservation of momentum. In a closed system, the total momentum remains constant. This means that the impulse on one object is equal and opposite to the impulse on the other object, resulting in no overall change in momentum.

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