Question

miniature golf is a game in which players hit a golf ball with a club, which causes the ball to roll along the flat ground. three golf balls with the same mass were rolling on the ground. each ball was hit by a golf club, but not from the same direction. all the golf balls changed speed as a result of being hit. use the information in the diagram to answer.
which golf ball(s) experienced the strongest force when hit? how do you know?
before
purple ball speed: 8 m/s
white ball speed: 10 m/s
green ball speed: 16 m/s
after
purple ball speed: 12 m/s (speed up by 4 m/s)
white ball speed: 14 m/s (speed up by 4 m/s)
green ball speed: 10 m/s (slowed down by 6 m/s)
the white and purple golf balls because they gained force, while the green golf ball lost force.
the green golf ball because it takes a stronger force to slow something down than to speed something up.
the green golf ball because it changed speed the most.
the white golf ball because it has the fastest ending speed

Explanation:

Step1: Recall Newton's second law

Force $F = ma$, where $a=\frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$. Assuming the time - interval $\Delta t$ of hitting is the same for all balls, the ball with the largest change in velocity $\Delta v$ experiences the largest force.

Step2: Calculate velocity changes

For the purple ball: $\Delta v_{purple}=12 - 8=4$ m/s. For the white ball: $\Delta v_{white}=14 - 10 = 4$ m/s. For the green ball: $\Delta v_{green}=\vert10 - 16\vert=6$ m/s.

Step3: Compare velocity changes

The green ball has the largest change in velocity. According to Newton's second law, with the same mass and time - interval of force application, the ball with the largest change in velocity experiences the largest force.

Answer:

The green golf ball because it changed speed the most.