A tennis ball, 0.314 kg, is accelerated at a rate of 164 m/s2 when hit by a professional tennis player. What force does the player's tennis racket exert on the ball?

Question

Physics

Johanna Suarez

2 June, 22:19

A tennis ball, 0.314 kg, is accelerated at a rate of 164 m/s2 when hit by a professional tennis player. What force does the player's tennis racket exert on the ball?

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Answers (1)

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Emilie Carson · Answer 1

Newton's 2nd law of motion:

Force = (mass) x (acceleration)

= (0.314 kg) x (164 m/s²)

= 51.5 newtons

(about 11.6 pounds).

Notice that the ball is only accelerating while it's in contact with the racket.

The instant the ball loses contact with the racket, it stops accelerating, and

sails off in a straight line at whatever speed it had when it left the strings.