You are standing on a skateboard at rest on a flat sidewalk. In your right hand you are holding a tennis racket. A friend throws a very heavy ball towards you. Which action will maximize your speed on the skateboard?

A Use the tennis racket to strike the ball toward the friend.
B Use your left hand to catch the ball.
C Use the tennis racket to deflect the path of the ball to the left or right.

Question

You are standing on a skateboard at rest on a flat sidewalk. In your right hand you are holding a tennis racket. A friend throws a very heavy ball towards you. Which action will maximize your speed on the skateboard?
 	
	A Use the tennis racket to strike the ball toward the friend.
	B Use your left hand to catch the ball.
	C Use the tennis racket to deflect the path of the ball to the left or right.

anonymous · Answer

Momentum must be conserved: I really think it's B (not 100% positive though)!

anonymous · Answer

Are you there @novanet?

anonymous · Answer

Remember to give a medal to the best answer! :)

anonymous · Answer

When you catch the ball, you speed up by acquiring its momentum. When you force it to rebound, you speed up by twice its momentum.
Answer is C.