Question

a student drops a ball and observes it bouncing back up. using newtons third law, explain what happens when the ball hits the ground. the ground absorbs all the force and the ball stops. the ball exerts no force on the ground. the ground exerts an equal and opposite force on the ball, causing it to bounce up. the ball bounces due to air resistance.

Explanation:

Newton's Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the ball hits the ground (action force), the ground exerts an equal and opposite force on the ball (reaction force), causing it to bounce up. The first option is incorrect as the ball doesn't stop (it bounces). The second option is wrong because the ball does exert a force on the ground. The fourth option is incorrect as air resistance isn't the cause of the bounce (the bounce is due to the reaction force from the ground).

Answer:

The ground exerts an equal and opposite force on the ball, causing it to bounce up.