Final answer:
The force used to describe a collision in terms of a bowling ball hitting pins is called impulse. Impulse is the change in momentum of the bowling ball, which is equal to the force exerted multiplied by the time of collision.
Step-by-step explanation:
The force used to describe a collision in terms of a bowling ball hitting pins is called the impulse. When the bowling ball collides with the pins, it exerts a force on them, causing them to move. The impulse is the change in momentum of the bowling ball, which is equal to the force exerted multiplied by the time of collision.
For example, if the bowling ball exerts a force of 100 Newtons on the pins for 0.1 seconds, the impulse would be 100 N * 0.1 s = 10 N·s.
Impulse is an important concept in physics and is related to the conservation of momentum. When two objects collide, the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.
To describe a collision in bowling, both linear and angular momentum are important, with the mass and velocity of the bowling ball determining the force exerted on the pins. Calculations can indicate the final velocities and type of collision, and energy considerations reflect on the kinetic and potential energy involved.