Final answer:
The tennis ball experiences a greater force from the wall compared to the putty because of its shorter interaction time with the wall and its elasticity, which result in a higher force during the collision.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to whether the piece of putty or the tennis ball experiences a greater force from the wall depends on the time during which each object interacts with the wall. According to Newton's third law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that the force exerted by the wall on the putty or the tennis ball is equal to the force exerted by the object on the wall.
The difference arises in the interaction time. Putty experiences a longer interaction time because it deforms and sticks to the wall, hence experiencing a lesser force compared to a tennis ball, which bounces back quickly, experiencing a greater force during its shorter interaction time. So, if a piece of putty and a tennis ball with the same mass are thrown against a wall with the same velocity, the tennis ball experiences a greater force from the wall due to its shorter collision time and higher elasticity.