Newton's 2nd Law Homework: Average Force of Tennis Ball

In summary, a tennis player exerts a force on a tennis ball of mass 56.7 g, accelerating it to 68.0 m/s in a distance of 0.0250 m. To find the average force, you can use Newton's second law and the equation F=ma. The acceleration can be found using kinematics equations, and then substituted into the force equation.
  • #1
lacar213
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0

Homework Statement


A tennis player strikes a tennis ball of mass 56.7 g when it is at the top of the toss, accelerating it to 68.0 m/s in a distance of 0.0250 m. What is the average force the player exerts on the ball? Ignore any other forces acting on the ball.


Homework Equations


f = ma
a = (f-mg)/m


The Attempt at a Solution


This problem was under Newton's 2nd law in my textbook and it didn't list any specific equations for average force. I found a few different equations online but I'm unsure on which one to use. Some of them include time and velocity. I'm just not sure on what equation to use for this. I'm guessing you may have to start with a velocity equation because the distance is in the problem?
 
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  • #2
The force exerted by the player is the only force you need to worry about. First figure out the acceleration using kinematics. Then apply F = ma.
 
  • #3
Would you also need to know the time or can you just find the acceleration by using Vf^2=Vi^2 +2ad ??
 

Related to Newton's 2nd Law Homework: Average Force of Tennis Ball

1. What is Newton's 2nd Law?

Newton's 2nd Law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. In simpler terms, the more force applied to an object, the more it will accelerate, but the heavier the object, the less it will accelerate.

2. How does Newton's 2nd Law apply to a tennis ball?

In the case of a tennis ball, the net force acting on it is due to the impact of the racket. The force applied by the racket causes the ball to accelerate and move in the direction of the force. The mass of the ball also plays a role in how fast it can accelerate.

3. How do you calculate the average force of a tennis ball based on Newton's 2nd Law?

The formula for Newton's 2nd Law is F=ma, where F is the force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration. To calculate the average force of a tennis ball, you would need to know its mass and the acceleration it experiences during the impact with the racket.

4. What other factors can affect the average force of a tennis ball?

Besides the mass and acceleration, other factors that can affect the average force of a tennis ball include the speed and angle of impact, the surface of the racket, and the air resistance. These factors can change the amount of force applied to the ball and affect its overall acceleration.

5. How can understanding Newton's 2nd Law help improve my tennis game?

By understanding Newton's 2nd Law, you can better control the force and speed at which you hit the ball. You can also adjust the angle and surface of your racket to optimize the amount of force applied to the ball. This knowledge can ultimately help you improve your shots and accuracy in tennis.

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