question_answer

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

Correct Answer: C

Solution :

         Change in the momentum               = Final momentum ? initial momentum                     For lead ball \[\Delta {{\vec{P}}_{\text{lead}}}=0-m\vec{v}=-m\vec{v}\] For tennis ball \[\Delta {{\vec{P}}_{\text{tennis}}}=-m\vec{v}-m\vec{v}=-2m\vec{v}\]          i.e. tennis ball suffers a greater change in momentum.