3. When a ping-pong ball rolling with a speed of collides with a bowling ball at rest, the ping-pong’s speed after the collision will be close to:
   A.
   B.
   C.
   D.

In a collision involving a much lighter object (the ping-pong ball) with a significantly heavier one (the bowling ball), the lighter object’s speed tends to change dramatically while the heavier object’s speed remains mostly unchanged. Given that the ping-pong ball is rolling at and collides with a stationary bowling ball, the ping-pong ball will likely come to a near stop after the collision. This implies that the speed of the ping-pong ball after the collision is closest to . So, the correct answer here is A.

Now, if we take a stretch into the bigger picture, consider how collisions like these demonstrate the real-world applications of Newton’s laws of motion. Think about sports! In basketball, a smaller player might collide with a much larger defender, and understanding these principles can help players anticipate reactions and improve their strategies on the court.

If you’re looking to dive deeper into collisions, don’t forget to explore the conservation of momentum! It’s a great way to analyze and predict results in various physical scenarios—from vehicle crashes to games of pool. Plus, looking up resources on elastic vs. inelastic collisions can add another layer to your understanding!