1500 kg wrecking ball traveling at a speed of 3.5 m/s hits a wall that does not crumble but is pushed back 75 cm. If the wrecking ball comes to rest in the wall, what is the size of the force that pushes the wall

The size of the force that pushes the wall is 12,250 N.

Explanation:

Given;

mass of the wrecking ball, m = 1500 kg

speed of the wrecking ball, v = 3.5 m/s

distance the ball moved the wall, d = 75 cm = 0.75 m

Apply the principle of work-energy theorem;

Kinetic energy of the wrecking ball = work done by the ball on the wall

¹/₂mv² = F x d

where;

F is the size of the force that pushes the wall

¹/₂mv² = F x d

¹/₂ x 1500 x 3.5² = F x 0.75

9187.5 = 0.75F

F = 9187.5 / 0.75

F = 12,250 N

Therefore, the size of the force that pushes the wall is 12,250 N.