Question

select the answer from the menu.
a bowling ball sitting motionless on a table exerts a downward force on the table. the force exerted by the table must be
equal to the force of the ball
continually changing with the ball
greater than the force of the ball
less than the force of the ball

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the situation

The bowling ball is motionless on the table, so it is in a state of equilibrium (net force is zero). The forces acting on the ball are gravity (downward) and the normal force from the table (upward). By Newton's third law, the force the ball exerts on the table (downward) and the force the table exerts on the ball (upward, normal force) are action - reaction pairs. Also, since the ball is in equilibrium, the normal force from the table on the ball is equal in magnitude to the weight of the ball (the downward force the ball exerts on the table is equal to its weight). So the force exerted by the table on the ball (and by Newton's third law, the relationship between the force the ball exerts on the table and the table on the ball) - in terms of the force the table exerts (upward) to balance the ball's downward force, they must be equal in magnitude (opposite in direction).

Step2: Evaluate the options

• Option "equal to the force of the ball": Since the ball is at rest, the upward force from the table (normal force) must balance the downward force (weight, which is equal to the force the ball exerts on the table). So this is correct.
• Option "continually changing with the ball": The ball is motionless, so the forces are constant, not changing. Eliminate.
• Option "greater than the force of the ball": If this were true, the ball would accelerate upward, which it isn't. Eliminate.
• Option "less than the force of the ball": If this were true, the ball would accelerate downward, which it isn't. Eliminate.

Answer:

equal to the force of the ball