Momentum of a Tennis Ball at an Angle

The direction of the impulse is D. Right.In summary, when a tennis ball with a mass of 0.060 kg and a speed of 26 m/s strikes a wall at a 45° angle and rebounds with the same speed at a 45° angle, the change in momentum is -2.2056 kgm/s. The direction of the impulse given to the ball is to the right.
  • #1
PeachBanana
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Homework Statement



A tennis ball of mass = 0.060 kg and speed = 26 m/s strikes a wall at a 45° angle and rebounds with the same speed at 45° .

Homework Equations



Δp = pfinal - pinitial
horizontal velocity = (26 m/s)cos 45°

There's a picture if you all care.

The Attempt at a Solution



pintial = mv
pintial = (0.060 kg)cos 45°
pinitial = 1.1028 kgm/s

pfinal = - pintial

I made this relationship because it is now going in the opposite direction.

pfinal = -1.1028 kgm/s

Δp = -1.1028 kgm/s - 1.1028 kgm/s = -2.2056 kgm/s

The answer is positive and I cannot understand why.

What is the direction of the impulse given to the ball?

A. Upward
B. Downward
C. Left
D. Right

I've eliminated B and C but I'm still unsure. The sine and cosine of forty-five degrees are the same.
 

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  • #2
Momentum is a vector. It's magnitude is m*v, where v is the speed.

The change in momentum would be found by finding the momentum vectors for before and after and finding the difference.
 

Related to Momentum of a Tennis Ball at an Angle

1. What is momentum?

Momentum is a measure of an object's mass and velocity. It is the product of an object's mass and its velocity, and is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.

2. How is momentum of a tennis ball at an angle calculated?

The momentum of a tennis ball at an angle can be calculated by multiplying its mass by its velocity in the direction of motion. Since the ball is moving at an angle, the velocity must be broken down into its horizontal and vertical components using trigonometric functions, and the momentum of each component can be calculated separately.

3. Does the angle of the tennis ball affect its momentum?

Yes, the angle of the tennis ball does affect its momentum. The momentum of the ball is dependent on its velocity, and the angle at which it is thrown or hit will determine the magnitude and direction of its velocity. Therefore, changing the angle will also change the momentum of the ball.

4. How does air resistance affect the momentum of a tennis ball at an angle?

Air resistance, or drag, can slow down the momentum of a tennis ball at an angle. As the ball moves through the air, it will experience a force in the opposite direction of its motion due to air resistance. This force will decrease the ball's velocity and therefore its momentum.

5. Can the momentum of a tennis ball at an angle be conserved?

Yes, the momentum of a tennis ball at an angle can be conserved as long as there are no external forces acting on the ball. In the absence of external forces, the initial momentum of the ball in one direction will be equal to the final momentum of the ball in the opposite direction, as momentum is a conserved quantity.

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