Mechanics: Momentum and Collisions

Momentum and Collisions: Audio Guided Solution

Problem 7:

While playing basketball in PE class, Logan lost his balance after making a lay-up and colliding with the padded wall behind the basket. His 74-kg body decelerated from 7.6 m/s to 0 m/s in 0.16 seconds.

a. Determine the force acting upon Logan's body.
b. If Logan had hit the concrete wall moving at the same speed, his momentum would have been reduced to zero in 0.0080 seconds. Determine what the force on his body would have been for such an abrupt collision.

Audio Guided Solution

Habits of an Effective Problem Solver

• Read the problem carefully and develop a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketch a simple diagram of the physical situation to help you visualize it.
• Identify the known and unknown quantities in an organized manner. Equate given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantity - e.g., m = 1.50 kg, v_i = 2.68 m/s,  F = 4.98 N, t = 0.133 s, v_f = ???.
• Use physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy for solving for the unknown quantity.
• Identify the appropriate formula(s) to use.
• Perform substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.

Read About It!

Get more information on the topic of Momentum and Collisions at The Physics Classroom Tutorial.

• Momentum
• Impulse-Momentum Change Equation
• Real World Applications

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