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 and in the same direction.
b The ball exerts a stronger force than the ground and in the opposite direction.
c The ball exerts a stronger force than the ground but in the same direction.
d The ball and the ground exert forces on each other with equal magnitude but in opposites directions.
d The ball and the ground exert forces on each other with equal magnitude but in opposite directions.
d The ball and the ground exert forces on each other with equal magnitude but in opposite directions.
The correct answer is option d: The ball and the ground exert forces on each other with equal magnitude but in opposite directions.
To understand how the ball and the ground act on each other, let's break it down step by step:
1. When the ball is dropped or thrown towards the ground, it experiences a force known as the gravitational force, pulling it downwards.
2. As the ball makes contact with the ground, it applies a force on the ground. This force is directed towards the ground, pushing it in the downward direction.
3. According to Newton's third law of motion, the ground exerts an equal and opposite force on the ball. This force is directed upwards, opposing the initial force of gravity and causing the ball to bounce.
So, both the ball and the ground exert equal and opposite forces on each other. This helps explain why the ball bounces back upwards.