Question

A rubber ball and a lump of putty have equal mass. They are thrown with equal speed against a wall. The ball bounces back with nearly the same speed with which it hit. The putty sticks to the wall. Which objects experiences the greater momentum change?

a) the ball
b) the putty
c) Both experience the same non-zero momentum change.
d) Both experience zero momentum change.
e) Cannot be determined from the information given.

Answer 1

a) the ball

Step-by-step explanation:

As we know that the ball and putty is of same mass

So here the change in momentum of ball is given as

`\Delta P = m(v_f - v_i)`

here we know that final velocity of the ball is reversed in direction and of equal magnitude

so we have

`\Delta P_(ball) = m(v + v)`

`\Delta P_(ball) = 2mv`

Similarly for putty which sticks to the wall

`\Delta P_(putty) = m(0 -(-v))`

`\Delta P_(putty) = mv`

so correct answer will be

a) the ball