The speed of a basketball as it is dribbled is the same when the ball os going toward tthe floor as it is when the ball rises from the floor. A. Is the basketball's change in momentum equal to zero when it hits the floor? B. If not, in which direction is the change in momentum. Draw its momentum vectors before and after it hits the floor.
Momentum= m(Vf-Vi). which way is Vf+ -Vi?
To answer these questions about momentum, let's first understand the concept of momentum and how it relates to the scenario you described.
Momentum is the product of an object's mass and velocity. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (size) and direction. The equation for momentum is:
Momentum (p) = mass (m) × velocity (v)
Now, in the case of a basketball being dribbled, we can assume that the mass of the basketball remains constant throughout. However, the velocity of the basketball changes when it hits the floor.
A. Is the basketball's change in momentum equal to zero when it hits the floor?
No, the basketball's change in momentum is not equal to zero when it hits the floor.
Before the basketball hits the floor, it is moving upward with a certain velocity, let's call it v1. When it hits the floor, it rebounds and moves in the opposite direction, downward, with a velocity v2. Therefore, the change in momentum (Δp) can be calculated using the equation:
Δp = p2 - p1
where p1 is the momentum before hitting the floor and p2 is the momentum after hitting the floor. Since the direction of motion changes, the change in momentum will not be zero.
B. In which direction is the change in momentum? Draw its momentum vectors before and after it hits the floor.
Before hitting the floor: The momentum vector will be pointing upward, indicating the direction of motion of the basketball before hitting the floor.
After hitting the floor: The momentum vector will be pointing downward, indicating the direction of motion of the basketball after hitting the floor.
To draw these vectors, you can represent them as arrows. The length of the arrow represents the magnitude of momentum, and the direction of the arrow represents the direction of momentum. For example, if the momentum vector before hitting the floor is represented by an arrow pointing upward, and the momentum vector after hitting the floor is represented by an arrow pointing downward.
In summary, the change in momentum when a basketball hits the floor is not equal to zero. The momentum vector changes direction, from upward to downward, as the basketball rebounds.