A ball bounces on the ground. How do the ball and the ground act on each other?
A. The ball and the ground exert forces on each other with equal magnitude but in opposite directions
B. The ball exerts a stronger force than the ground but in the same direction
C. The ball exerts a stronger force than the ground and in the opposite direction
D. The ball and the ground exert forces on each other with equal magnitude and in the same direction
A. The ball and the ground exert forces on each other with equal magnitude but in opposite directions
A. The ball and the ground exert forces on each other with equal magnitude but in opposite directions.
The correct answer is A. The ball and the ground exert forces on each other with equal magnitude but in opposite directions.
When a ball bounces on the ground, the ball and the ground interact with each other through a force called the normal force. The normal force is the force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object resting on it.
As the ball hits the ground, the ground exerts an upward normal force on the ball to support its weight. At the same time, the ball exerts a downward force on the ground, also known as the ball's weight. According to Newton's third law of motion, these forces are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.
This interaction between the ball and the ground causes the ball to bounce back up. The normal force from the ground provides the impulse that changes the ball's velocity and direction, allowing it to rebound.