Question

Why does a bouncing ball have a greater change in momentum than a ball that is just caught

Answer 1

because with the change in momentum the velocity goes to zero. (more info below)

Step-by-step explanation:

Momentum is the velocity change multiplied by the mass. When you think about it, bouncing an object means it comes back from anything it bounced against, giving it a velocity that is negative. This means that the velocity change for bouncing is greater than for colliding, as the velocity goes to zero in an inelastic collision like the one described.

hope this helped!

Answer 2

If the ball bounces, then there is an additional velocity change sending the ball back upwards opposite the original direction. Thus, for the same collision time, bouncing involves a greater velocity change, a greater momentum change, and therefore a greater impulse.