Question

Kids are pelting a window with snowballs. On average, two snowballs of roughly 300-g mass hit the window each second, moving horizontally at some 10 m/s. The snowballs drop vertically to the ground after hitting the window.

Required:
Estimate the average force exerted on the window.

Answer 1

The average force exerted on the window due to two snowballs is 6 N

Step-by-step explanation:

Given:

Mass of snowballs
`m = 300 * 10^(-3)` Kg

Velocity of snowball
`v = 10 (m)/(s)`

For finding the average force,

Force is equal to the change in momentum,

`F = (dP)/(dt)`

Here, final velocity is zero so we write,

`F = (mv)/(1)`

Where
`dt = 1` sec

`F = 300 * 10^(-30) * 10`

`F = 3` N

Above value of force is due to one ball, but here given in question there are two ball,

`F = 3 * 2`

`F = 6` N

Therefore, the average force exerted on the window due to two snowballs is 6 N