1. Understand the Concepts
* Impulse: The change in momentum of an object. It's equal to the force applied multiplied by the time over which it acts.
* Momentum: The product of an object's mass and its velocity.
* Force: The push or pull that can change an object's motion.
2. Define the Variables
* Mass (m) = 100 grams = 0.1 kg (convert grams to kilograms)
* Initial velocity (v₁) = 35 m/s eastward (we'll consider eastward as positive)
* Final velocity (v₂) = -20 m/s westward (westward is negative)
* Time (Δt) = 0.025 seconds
* Force (F) = ?
3. Calculate the Change in Momentum (Impulse)
* Initial momentum (p₁) = m * v₁ = 0.1 kg * 35 m/s = 3.5 kg m/s
* Final momentum (p₂) = m * v₂ = 0.1 kg * -20 m/s = -2 kg m/s
* Change in momentum (Δp) = p₂ - p₁ = -2 kg m/s - 3.5 kg m/s = -5.5 kg m/s
4. Calculate the Force
* Impulse (Δp) = Force (F) * Time (Δt)
* F = Δp / Δt = -5.5 kg m/s / 0.025 s = -220 N
Answer:
The force acting on the baseball is -220 Newtons. The negative sign indicates that the force acts in the westward direction, opposite to the initial eastward velocity.
