Final answer:
A tennis ball can break float glass, which is more fragile than other types of glass like tempered or laminated glass. The minimum height a glass object must fall to break upon hitting a tile floor can be calculated using the given mass and force. The impact would be less on a padded or carpeted surface, thus reducing the chance of breaking.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked which type of glass a tennis ball can break, and the options are tempered glass, safety glass, laminated glass, and float glass. A tennis ball typically does not possess sufficient mass or velocity to break strong types of glass like tempered or laminated glass on its own. However, float glass is more fragile and can be broken by objects with less force, such as a tennis ball, especially if there are flaws or weaknesses in the glass.
To address the provided information regarding impact force, a minimum height for a glass object to fall and break on a tile floor can be calculated using the provided mass (1.2 kg) and force (330 N). If the glass were to fall onto a padded or carpeted surface, the impact would be cushioned, reducing the average force exerted on the glass, which means breaking it would be less likely, or it would require a greater minimum fall height.
Finally, the difference between glass and metals in terms of thermal properties is that metals generally have higher thermal conductivity than glass, meaning metals transfer heat more efficiently, making them feel colder or hotter to the touch compared to glass.