A rubber ball bounces. We'd like to understand how the ball bounces. c. Draw a free-body diagram of the ball during its contact with the ground. Is there a net force acting on the ball? If so, in which direction?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify all the forces acting on the rubber ball during contact with the ground. These include the gravitational force acting downward and the normal force exerted by the ground acting upward.
2. Draw a circle to represent the ball. At the center of the circle, draw an arrow pointing downward to represent the gravitational force (weight) of the ball, labeled as \( F_g \).
3. Draw another arrow starting from the point where the ball touches the ground, pointing upward, to represent the normal force exerted by the ground on the ball, labeled as \( F_n \).
4. Analyze the direction and relative magnitudes of these forces. The normal force is typically greater than the gravitational force during the bounce, as it not only supports the weight of the ball but also provides the force necessary for it to bounce back.
5. Conclude whether there is a net force acting on the ball and its direction. Since the normal force exceeds the gravitational force during the bounce, there is a net force acting upward on the ball, causing it to accelerate upwards.

Key Concepts

Free-Body Diagram

A free-body diagram is a graphical representation used to visualize the forces acting on an object. In the case of the rubber ball, it illustrates all the forces, such as gravity and the normal force from the ground, acting on the ball during its contact with the ground. This helps in analyzing the net force and the resulting motion of the ball.

Net Force

Net force is the vector sum of all the forces acting on an object. It determines the object's acceleration according to Newton's second law of motion. In the context of the bouncing ball, if the forces are unbalanced, a net force will act on the ball, influencing its motion and behavior during the bounce.

Normal Force

The normal force is the support force exerted by a surface perpendicular to the object in contact with it. For the rubber ball, when it contacts the ground, the normal force acts upward, counteracting the downward force of gravity. This interaction is crucial for understanding how the ball bounces back after hitting the ground.