A tennis ball with a velocity of +9.6 m/s to the right is thrown perpendicularly at a wall. After striking the wall, the ball rebounds in the opposite direction with a velocity of -5.8 m/s (to the left). If the ball is in contact with the wall for 0.013 s, what is the average acceleration of the ball while it is in contact with the wall?
-1184.615385
To find the average acceleration of the ball while it is in contact with the wall, we can use the formula for average acceleration:
Average Acceleration = (change in velocity) / (time)
In this case, the change in velocity is given by the final velocity minus the initial velocity:
Change in velocity = final velocity - initial velocity
Substituting the given values, we get:
Change in velocity = (-5.8 m/s) - (+9.6 m/s)
Change in velocity = -15.4 m/s
Now, we can substitute the value for change in velocity and the given time into the formula to calculate the average acceleration:
Average Acceleration = (-15.4 m/s) / (0.013 s)
Calculating the division, the average acceleration of the ball while it is in contact with the wall is approximately -1185.25 m/s^2.
Therefore, the average acceleration of the ball while it is in contact with the wall is approximately -1185.25 m/s^2 (to the left).