Consider the following two situations: 1) you throw a bouncy ball at a statue of
ID: 1458266 • Letter: C
Question
Consider the following two situations: 1) you throw a bouncy ball at a statue of a clown and hit it on the nose and 2) you throw a ball of clay at the same clown statue and hit it on the nose such that it sticks. All parameters (mass, initial velocity, etc.) are equivalent between the two cases aside from the fact that the bouncy ball bounces and the ball of clay sticks. If your goal is the knock over the clown statue by throwing one of the two objects, which object should you choose to maximize the likelihood of knocking over the statue? Explain why
The instructor have the hint that he is wanting to know which you would use to knock over the statu, in relation to the ball bouncing and the clay sticking
Explanation / Answer
the one which applies more impulse has greater chance of knocking the statue.
Let the initial velocity of ball and clay be v1 m/s
After collision, velocity of ball be - v2 m/s (negative because it will move in opposite direction) and velocity of clay be 0 (since it sticks)
impuls of ball = m*(Vf-Vi) = m*(-v2 - v1) = -m*(v1+v2)
impuls of clay = m*(Vf-Vi) = m*(0 - v1) = -m*(v1)
Clearly impulse of ball is more. SO ball has greater chance of knocking the statue