MEDAL
A 1.5 kg tennis ball is slammed by a player who changes its direction by 180 degrees, keeping its speed of 30 m/s the same. What impulse is required to redirect the ball?

Question

anonymous · Answer

I would approach this with conservation of linear momentum.

Momentum is defined as p = m*v, where m is the mass and v is the velocity.

I would write an equation that relates the momentum of the ball before to the ball after. Then the change in momentum is your impulse.

karabella98 · Answer

But if the mass and velocity of the ball are the same before and after being hit, wouldn't the impulse be 0?

anonymous · Answer

Yes you are correct.

karabella98 · Answer

Oh, okay, thank you!