You are throwing a ball straight up and then catching it as it returns to your hand. When the ball leaves your hand, its momentum is in the upward direction but when it returns to your hand, its momentum is in the downward direction. During its flight above your hand, what happens to the ball's initial upward momentum?
A. The upward momentum is converted into kinetic energy.
B. The upward momentum is transferred to the earth.
C. The upward momentum is converted into thermal energy.
D. The upward momentum is converted into gravitational potential energy.
Answer:B
You are throwing a ball straight up and then catching it as it returns to your hand. When the ball leaves your hand, its momentum is in the upward direction but when it returns to your hand, its momentum is in the downward direction. During its flight above your hand, what happens to the ball's initial upward momentum?
A. The upward momentum is converted into kinetic energy. B. The upward momentum is transferred to the earth. C. The upward momentum is converted into thermal energy. D. The upward momentum is converted into gravitational potential energy.