A soft tennis ball is dropped onto a hard floor from a height of 1.25 m and rebounds to a height of 1.05 m?

A: Calculate its acceleration during contact with the floor if that contact lasts 3.50 ms (3.50×10-3 s) m/s.

B: How much did the ball compress during its collision with the floor, assuming the floor is absolutely rigid in m?

2 Answers
Nov 6, 2017

The ball accelerates at a rate of -1414m/s^21414ms2 and compresses by 8.66 mm8.66mm.

Explanation:

First, we have to determine the speed the ball has at the moment it contacts the floor. Since it fell from a height of 1.25 m, the speed is found from

v^2=v_o^2+2adv2=v2o+2ad

where v_ovo is the starting speed (zero) , aa is the acceleration of the ball (9.8 m/s^29.8ms2) and dd is the height it falls through.

v^2 = 0 + 2(9.8)(1.25) = 24.5v2=0+2(9.8)(1.25)=24.5

so, v = 4.95 m/sv=4.95ms

(By the way, this equation of motion is commonly used when we do not know the time of the motion, and do not wish to bother with calculating it!)

Next, we find the acceleration of the ball while in contact with the floor. This time, v=0v=0 as the final speed is zero when the ball has stopped.

v=v_0+atv=v0+at

0=4.95+a(3.5xx10^(-3))0=4.95+a(3.5×103)

So, the acceleration is

a=4.95/(3.5xx10^(-3)) = 1414 m/s^2a=4.953.5×103=1414ms2

Finally, to find the deformation of the ball, we do a calculation like the first one

v^2=v_o^2+2adv2=v2o+2ad

0 = 4.95^2 +2(-1414)d0=4.952+2(1414)d

Note that to avoid a sign conflict, I have placed a negative sign in front of the acceleration, as the ball is slowing down.

d=4.95^2/(2828) = 0.00866 md=4.9522828=0.00866m or 8.66 mm

Nov 6, 2017

Use velocity and displacement equations for the rebound to find initial velocity. Then use this initial velocity at the time of the collision as a final velocity. Answer is:

a=1309.31 m/s^2a=1309.31ms2

Explanation:

Question A

After the rebound, the motion on the vertical axis is deceleration, with a=ga=g. Therefore, the velocity uu and height hh will be equal to:

u=u_0-g tu=u0gt

h=u_0*t-1/2g t^2h=u0t12gt2

Now, since it reaches 1.05 m, you have h=1.05mh=1.05m and u=0u=0 the velocity equation:

u=u_0-g tu=u0gt
0=u_0-g t0=u0gt
g t=u_0gt=u0
t=u_0/gt=u0g

Substituting into the height equation:

h=u_0*t-1/2g t^2h=u0t12gt2
1.05=u_0(u_0/g)-1/2g*(u_0/g)^21.05=u0(u0g)12g(u0g)2
1.05=(u_0)^2/g-1/2g*(u_0)^2/g^21.05=(u0)2g12g(u0)2g2
1.05=(u_0)^2/g-1/2(u_0)^2/g1.05=(u0)2g12(u0)2g

The (u_0)^2/g(u0)2g is a common factor:

1.05=(u_0)^2/g*(1-1/2)1.05=(u0)2g(112)
1.05=(u_0)^2/g*1/21.05=(u0)2g12
2*1.05*g=(u_0)^221.05g=(u0)2
u_0=sqrt(2*1.05*g)u0=21.05g
u_0=sqrt(2.1g)u0=2.1g

For educational purposes, g=10 m/s^2g=10ms2 is frequently used (its actual value is 9.806 m/s^29.806ms2. Therefore:

u_0=sqrt(2.1*10)=sqrt(21)~=4.583 m/s=u_1u0=2.110=214.583ms=u1*

*This velocity will be defined as u_1u1

After its collision, the ball had an acceleration from u=0u=0 to u=u_1u=u1 over time 0.0035 s0.0035s. Therefore:

u_1=u_0-atu1=u0at
at=u_1-u_0at=u1u0
a=(u_1-u_0)/ta=u1u0t
a=(4.583-0)/0.0035a=4.58300.0035
a=1309.31 m/s^2a=1309.31ms2 (Answer to question A)

I actually have no way to answer question B. Either additional data is missing or it's a hard one. I assume it has to do with the energy difference before and after the collision and some formula for inelastic collisions. The total energy difference is measured between the two heights as dynamic difference:

U_1-U_2=m*g*h_1-m*g*h_2=m*g*(h_1-h_2)=U1U2=mgh1mgh2=mg(h1h2)=
=m*10*(1.25-1.05)=2*m=m10(1.251.05)=2m

Hope you find it useful.