Q. A lead ball strikes a wall and falls down, a tennis ball having the same mass and velocity strikes the wall and bounces back. Check the correct statement
A) The momentum of the lead ball is greater than that of the tennis ball
B) The lead ball suffers a greater change in momentum compared with the tennis ball
C) The tennis ball suffers a greater change in momentum as compared with the lead ball
D) Both suffer an equal change in momentum
Explanation
(c) Change in the momentum = Final momentum – initial momentum
For lead ball $\mathrm{\Delta}{\overrightarrow{P}}_{lead} = 0 - m\overrightarrow{v} = - m\overrightarrow{v}$
For tennis ball $\mathrm{\Delta}{\overrightarrow{P}}_{tennis} = - m\overrightarrow{v} - m\overrightarrow{v} = - 2m\overrightarrow{v}$
$i.e.$ tennis ball suffers a greater change in momentum
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker
Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist
Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.