Final answer:
The pushed ball's motion includes an initial velocity, a rapid deceleration upon hitting and rebounding off the barrier, and involves an elastic collision. When a partner walks with the bouncing ball, the motion is both forward and vertical, resulting in a parabolic path. In a virtual physics simulation, these motions can be further explored with respect to vectors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The motion of the ball as it rolls and rebounds from a barrier can be described in terms of velocity, acceleration, and the forces involved. Initially, when the ball is pushed, it has a certain velocity in the direction it is pushed. Upon hitting the barrier, a force is applied by the barrier on the ball in the opposite direction, causing it to decelerate rapidly and then move in the opposite direction, or rebound. This is an example of elastic collision, where the ball conserves momentum by reversing its velocity while the shape of the ball temporarily deforms and then restores, pushing itself off the barrier.
When the ball is observed bouncing while the partner is walking forward, its motion will appear to be a combination of the forward motion imparted by the partner and the vertical bouncing motion due to gravity. If you remain stationary, you'll notice that the ball follows a parabolic path in its motion. If you walk alongside your partner, the forward motion will be less noticeable, and the ball's motion would predominantly appear vertical.
In a virtual physics simulation, you can explore this type of motion in more detail. Specifically, Motion in 2D simulations allow students to learn about position, velocity, and acceleration vectors in a controlled environment while observing different types of motion, such as linear and simple harmonic motions.