A tennis player swings and hits the ball away. How does the force of the tennis racket affect the motion of the ball?
a
It changes the direction of the ball, but not the speed.
b
It changes the speed of the ball, but not the direction.
c
It changes both the direction and speed of the ball.
d
It doesn't change the speed or direction of the ball.
c. It changes both the direction and speed of the ball.
When a tennis player swings and hits the ball with the racket, the force imparted by the racket can alter both the direction and the speed of the ball. According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, the force applied to an object will cause it to accelerate in the direction of the force. This means that if the ball is struck in such a way that it is moving not only forward but also in a different direction (like an overhead serve or a cross-court shot), both its speed and its direction will be affected by the force of the racket.