A rubber ball and a lump of clay have equal mass. They are thrown with equal speed against a wall. The ball bounces back with nearly the same speed with which it hit. The clay sticks to the
Wall. Which one of these objects experiences the greater momentum change?
A) the ball
B) the clay
C) Both of them experience the same non-zero momentum change.
D) Both of them experience zero momentum change.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ball experiences a greater momentum change because it reverses direction, effectively doubling its change in momentum compared to the clay, which only stops and sticks to the wall.

A Rubber Ball and a Lump of Clay Have Equal