Find Force given velocity, time and mass

Question

A 512 g ball strikes a wall at 15 m/s and rebounds at 12.1 m/s. The ball is in contact with the wall for 0.049 s. What is the magnitude of the average force acting on the ball during the collision? Answer in units of N.

Answer 1

We first find the change in momentum ΔP.

+ right direction and - left direction

ΔP/t = (P₂ - P₁)/t = F

0.512 (-12.1 - 15) / 0.049s = F

F = -283.167N (negative shows direction)