Question

A 2 kg rubber ball is thrown at a wall horizontally at 3 m/s, and bounces back the way it came at an equal speed. A 2 kg clay ball is also thrown at the same speed horizontally at the wall, but sticks to it upon hitting. [THE CLAY BALL / THE RUBBER BALL /NEITHER] (circle one) exerts a greater magnitude of impulse on the wall. Briefly explain (either in words or calculations)

Answer 1

THE RUBBER BALL

Step-by-step explanation:

From the question we are told that

The mass of the rubber ball is
`m_r = 2 \ kg`

The initial speed of the rubber ball is
`u = 3 \ m/s`

The final speed at which it bounces bank
`v - 3 \ m/s`

The mass of the clay ball is
`m_c = 2 \ kg`

The initial speed of the clay ball is
`u = 3 \ m/s`

The final speed of the clay ball is
`v = 0 \ m/s`

Generally Impulse is mathematically represented as

`I = \Delta p`

where
`\Delta p` is the change in the linear momentum so

`I = m(v-u)`

For the rubber is

`I_r = 2(-3 -3)`

`I_r = -12\ kg \cdot m/s`

=>
`|I_r| = 12\ kg \cdot m/s`

For the clay ball

`I_c = 2(0-3)`

`I_c = -6 \ kg\cdot \ m/s`

=>
`| I_c| = 6 \ kg\cdot \ m/s`

So from the above calculation the ball with the a higher magnitude of impulse is the rubber ball