Answer & Solution
Answer: Option
B
Solution:
Let's break down this question step-by-step!
The key here is understanding what happens to momentum when each ball hits the wall. Momentum is a measure of mass in motion.
Momentum depends on two things: how heavy something is (mass) and how fast it's moving (velocity).
The question tells us both balls have the same mass and are moving with the same velocity initially. This means they start with the same momentum.
Now, consider what happens after they hit the wall:
- The rubber ball rebounds (bounces back). This means its velocity changes direction, and its momentum also changes direction.
- The lead ball falls down. This means it essentially stops; its velocity becomes zero. So, its momentum becomes zero.
Change in momentum is calculated by: Final momentum - Initial momentum.
For the rubber ball, the final momentum is in the opposite direction to its initial momentum, so the change is significant (close to double the initial momentum).
For the lead ball, the final momentum is zero, so the change is equal to the initial momentum.
Therefore, the rubber ball undergoes a much greater change in momentum than the lead ball.
Let's look at the options:
Option A: Rubber and lead balls undergo equal changes in momentum - Incorrect. We've just shown that the rubber ball's change in momentum is larger.
Option B: Change in momentum suffered by lead ball is less that of rubber ball - Correct. This is what we concluded above.
Option C: Momentum of rubber ball is less than that of lead ball - Incorrect. Initially, they have equal momentum and the change in momentum is what differs. Also it is talking about the current scenario after striking not the initial one.
Option D: None of these - Incorrect. Option B is correct.
So, the correct answer is Option B.
