Final answer:
A wrecking ball exerts force on another object through potential energy due to its elevated position. This potential energy turns into kinetic energy as the ball falls, allowing it to exert a significant force upon impact. The point of impact influences whether a structure falls over by rotating or falls straight down.
Step-by-step explanation:
How the Wrecking Ball Exerts Force
The wrecking ball has the potential to exert force on another object through its potential energy. This energy is due to the wrecking ball's elevated position above the ground, thanks to gravity. When a wrecking ball is lifted by a crane, the work done to lift it is transformed into this potential energy. If released, this potential energy would be converted into kinetic energy as the ball accelerates toward the ground, allowing it to exert a force upon impact.
For example, if the wrecking ball were to fail from its suspended position two stories high, it would begin to accelerate due to gravity, gradually converting potential energy into kinetic energy. At the moment just before impact, the wrecking ball would have nearly maximum kinetic energy, allowing it to exert a considerable force on impact, capable of demolishing structures like a wall or a car.
If the wrecking ball hits a tall unsupported wall near the top, the wall is more likely to fall over by rotating at its base due to the torque created by the force applied at a higher point. Conversely, if struck at its base, the wall may fall straight down if it is not firmly attached at the base or may simply be pushed in the direction of the force.