Question

A 5.4 kg bowling ball and a 2.7 gram ping-pong ball collide head-on. If the magnitude of the force by the bowling ball on the ping-pong ball is 3.5 N, what is the magnitude of the force by the ping-pong ball on the bowling ball

Answer 1

The magnitude of force of the ping-pong ball on the bowling ball ,
`F_p` = 3.5 N

Step-by-step explanation:

Given;

mass of the bowling ball,
`m_b` = 5.4 kg

mass of the ping-pong ball,
`m_p` = 2.7 g = 0.0027 kg

magnitude of force of the bowling ball,
`F_b` = 3.5 N

let the magnitude of force of ping-pong ball =
`F_p`

Apply Newton's third law of motion; action and reaction are equal and opposite.

`F_b = -F_p`

The force of the ping-pong ball on the bowling ball is equal to that of the bowling ball on ping-pong ball, but in opposite direction.

Thus, the magnitude of force of the ping-pong ball on the bowling ball ,
`F_p` = 3.5 N