If you throw a ball against a wall, which of the three impulses is the greatest: throw, bounce, or catch?

I think it would be the bounce because the momentum of the ball is highest when it hits the wall. and basically impulse is the change in momentum...am i correct ???.....if not then wat else is possible...

bounce:

Δp =p2 –p1 =m•v2- (-m•v1) = m(v1+v2)

thank you for the help ...........but how is the (m.V1) negative ???

You're on the right track! Impulse is indeed defined as the change in momentum. When you throw a ball against a wall, there are three main impulses involved: the impulse from the throw, the impulse from the bounce, and the impulse from the catch.

The impulse from the throw occurs when you initially release the ball from your hand. It is the force applied over the time it takes for you to let go of the ball, and it changes the momentum of the ball.

The impulse from the bounce occurs when the ball hits the wall and rebounds. This impulse is equal and opposite to the impulse from the throw, according to Newton's third law of motion. The change in momentum during the bounce is generally smaller than the change in momentum during the throw because some energy is lost due to factors like air resistance and the ball deforming upon impact.

The impulse from the catch occurs when you catch the ball after it bounces off the wall. This impulse helps to bring the ball to a stop and change its momentum once again. It is similar to the impulse from the throw but in the opposite direction.

Now, to determine which impulse is the greatest, we need to compare the magnitudes of these impulses. The impulse from the bounce can actually be greater than the impulse from the throw if the ball rebounds with a lot of force. However, in most cases, the impulse from the throw will be the greatest because it covers the initial change in momentum caused by your arm movement.

So, in summary, while the impulse from the bounce can sometimes be greater than the impulse from the throw, overall, the throw impulse is usually the greatest because it accounts for the initial momentum change when the ball is first released.

Remember, these conclusions are generalizations and can vary depending on factors like the force of the throw, the surface of the wall, and the elasticity of the ball.