What was the average force exerted by the wall on the ball during the collision?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a ball colliding with a wall. The ball initially travels horizontally at 25.0 m/s and rebounds at 20.0 m/s after contacting the wall for 3.50 ms. Participants are tasked with determining the average force exerted by the wall on the ball during this collision, given the mass of the ball is 180 g.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of average acceleration and its implications for determining average force. There are attempts to clarify the relationship between impulse and momentum, as well as the correct application of Newton's laws. Some participants express uncertainty about the initial calculations and seek to verify the accuracy of the acceleration value.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing hints and corrections regarding the calculations involved. There is a focus on ensuring the correct average acceleration is established before proceeding to calculate the average force. Multiple interpretations of the acceleration value are being explored, and some participants are preparing to share their attempts at solutions.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the information they can share. There is an emphasis on verifying calculations and understanding the underlying physics concepts rather than providing direct solutions.

Nirupt
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Homework Statement



Above you had a ball traveling horizontally at 25.0 m/s bouncing off a brick wall and rebounding at 20.0 m/s. The ball was in contact with the wall for 3.50 ms, and you found the magnitude of the average acceleration during the time the ball was in contact with the wall. Now, what was the average force that the wall exerted on the ball during this collision, if the mass of the ball is 180

Homework Equations



Where it says above all I solved a question asking for acceleration which was 1428.57 m/s^2

The Attempt at a Solution


Not sure.. my only guess is that it goes with a free fall equation or an x not known since the ball was throw horizontally
 
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Hint: Newton's laws.
 
\vec{F}=\frac{d\vec{p}}{dt}, this is related to impulse.

Impulse is the change in momentum.
 
Last edited:
Nirupt said:
Where it says above all I solved a question asking for acceleration which was 1428.57 m/s^2
But that's the wrong answer for the scenario in the OP.
Presumably you arrived at that by dividing the change in velocity by the time taken, Δv/Δt.
Average force is defined similarly: change in momentum divided by time taken.
 
I probably should have posted my optional answers:

2.32 * 10^3 N

1.61 * 10^3 N

952 N

4.06 * 10^4 N I'll post my attempt later tonight when I am home.
 
Nirupt said:
I'll post my attempt later tonight when I am home.
But you need to get the average acceleration right first. it's nearly ten times the figure you posted.
 
1.43 * 10^3 was the answer for acceleration
 
Nirupt said:
1.43 * 10^3 was the answer for acceleration
Are you saying that's the answer you got or that it is the correct answer? And are you saying it is the average acceleration for this scenario?:
a ball traveling horizontally at 25.0 m/s bouncing off a brick wall and rebounding at 20.0 m/s. The ball was in contact with the wall for 3.50 ms
(20+25)/.0035 = 1.29*104.
You appear to have calculated (25*2)/0.035.
 
Ah thanks for the correction. So.. this makes F = Ma easier to use correct?

1.29*10^4*180 = 2.32*10^3 N since mass and acceleration are known
 
  • #10
That's it.
 

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