Exploration 4.6: Putted Golf Ball Breaks Toward the Hole

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A putted golf ball rolls toward the hole on a green.  The animation shows a top view of the ball on the green. Restart.  The acceleration vector (orange) of the ball is shown on the animation, and the components of the ball's acceleration are displayed in the data table.

The net force on the golf ball is in the same direction as the acceleration of the golf ball, according to Newton's second law.  This means that if you know the mass of the golf ball and the acceleration of the golf ball, you can calculate the net force on the golf ball.

1. Is the net force on the golf ball in the animation constant during the interval from t = 0 to t = 4.8 s? 
2. If not, does its magnitude and/or direction change?
3. If the mass of a golf ball is 0.046 kg, what is the net force on the golf ball at t = 1.0 s?
4. For practice, calculate the net force on the golf ball at t = 2.0 s, t = 3.0 s, and t = 4.0 s as well.

Exploration authored by Aaron Titus.
© 2004 by Prentice-Hall, Inc. A Pearson Company