(c) What is the average acceleration of the baseball?

A ball of mass [tex]$500 \, \text{g}[tex]$[/tex] is dropped from a height of [tex]$[/tex]1.5 \, \text{m}[tex]$[/tex]. It rebounds from the floor to reach a height of [tex]$[/tex]1.2 \, \text{m}$[/tex]. Calculate the impulse that was given to the ball by the floor.
[tex][5.14 \, \text{Ns}][/tex]



Answer :

Sure, let's walk through the detailed solution to find the impulse given to the ball by the floor.

Given Data:
- Mass of the ball, \( m = 500 \, \text{g} = 0.5 \, \text{kg} \) (since mass should be in kilograms for consistency in SI units).
- Acceleration due to gravity, \( g = 9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2 \).
- Initial height from which the ball is dropped, \( h_{\text{drop}} = 1.5 \, \text{m} \).
- Height to which the ball rebounds, \( h_{\text{rebound}} = 1.2 \, \text{m} \).

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. Calculate the velocity just before hitting the floor:

We will use the equation of motion for free fall:
[tex]\[ v^2 = u^2 + 2gh \][/tex]
where \( u \) is the initial velocity (which is 0, since the ball starts from rest), \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity, and \( h \) is the height.

For the fall:
[tex]\[ v_{\text{before}}^2 = 0 + 2gh_{\text{drop}} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ v_{\text{before}} = \sqrt{2 \cdot 9.81 \cdot 1.5} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ v_{\text{before}} \approx 5.424942396007538 \, \text{m/s} \][/tex]

2. Calculate the velocity just after rebounding:

Similarly, using the conservation of energy principles when the ball rebounds:
[tex]\[ v^2 = u^2 + 2gh \][/tex]
where \( u \) is the initial velocity just after rebounding.

For the rebound:
[tex]\[ v_{\text{after}}^2 = 0 + 2gh_{\text{rebound}} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ v_{\text{after}} = \sqrt{2 \cdot 9.81 \cdot 1.2} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ v_{\text{after}} \approx 4.852215988597375 \, \text{m/s} \][/tex]

3. Calculate the impulse imparted to the ball by the floor:

Impulse is defined as the change in momentum. Note that upon rebounding, the direction of the ball's velocity changes, so the velocities add up when considering the impulse.

[tex]\[ \text{Impulse} = \Delta p = m \cdot (v_{\text{after}} + v_{\text{before}}) \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Impulse} = 0.5 \cdot (5.424942396007538 + 4.852215988597375) \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Impulse} \approx 0.5 \cdot 10.277158384604913 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Impulse} \approx 5.138579192302457 \, \text{Ns} \][/tex]

Hence, the impulse given to the ball by the floor is approximately [tex]\( 5.14 \, \text{Ns} \)[/tex].

Other Questions