Question

A metallic ball strikes a wall and falls down whereas a tennis bail having the same mass and velocity bounces back. The reason for this is that:

• A. both suffer equal change in momentum.
• B. the tennis ball suffers a greater change in momentum.
• C. metallic ball suffers a greater change in momentum.
• D. the momentum of the tennis ball is less than that of the metallic ball.

Answer 1

The correct option is B the tennis ball suffers a greater change in momentum.

Here, let the mass of tennis ball and metallic ball is same and their velocity is same. after collision tennis ball bounce back with same velocity V and metallic ball fall down after collision.

change in momentum of tennis ball = mv - (-mv) = 2mv

change in momentum of metallic ball = mv - 0 = mv

therefore tennis ball suffer greater change in momentum.