A baseball of mass m, initially at rest, is struck by a bat so that it acquires a speed v. If t represents the duration of the collision between the bat and the ball, which one of the following expressions determines the magnitude of the average force exerted on the ball? A)(1/2)mv² B)mv/t C)(1/2)mv²t D)mt²/(2v) E)mvt

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The average force exerted on the ball can be determined by using the impulse-momentum theorem, which states that FΔt = Δp, where F is the average force, Δt is the duration of the collision, and Δp is the change in momentum of the ball.

In this case, the ball starts at rest, so its initial momentum is zero. After being struck by the bat, its final momentum is mv. Therefore, the change in momentum is Δp = mv.

Using FΔt = Δp, we can solve for F:

F = Δp/Δt = mv/t

So, the correct choice is B.

A Baseball of Mass M, Initially at Rest, Is Struck