Work Energy And Power Question 83
Question: A lead ball strikes a wall and falls down, a tennis ball having the same mass and velocity strikes the wall and bounces back. Check the correct statement
Options:
A) The momentum of the lead ball is greater than that of the tennis ball
B) The lead ball suffers a greater change in momentum compared with the tennis ball
C) The tennis ball suffers a greater change in momentum as compared with the lead ball
D) Both suffer an equal change in momentum
Show Answer
Answer:
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Change in the momentum = Final momentum - initial momentum
For lead ball $ \Delta {{\vec{P}} _{lead}}=0-m\vec{v}=-m\vec{v} $
For tennis ball $ \Delta {{\vec{P}} _{tennis}}=-m\vec{v}-m\vec{v}=-2m\vec{v} $
i.e. tennis ball suffers a greater change in momentum.