Question

a tennis player hits a ball with his racquet. the ball moves away from him and bounces off the ground, as modeled below. which model correctly shows the gravitational force that earth exerts on the ball throughout its motion? choose 1 answer: a image of model a b image of model b c image of model c

Explanation:

Gravitational force exerted by Earth on an object (like the tennis ball) is always directed vertically downward (toward the center of the Earth), regardless of the ball's horizontal motion or its position (whether in the air or after bouncing, except when considering normal force on the ground, but gravity itself is still downward). In option A, the force vectors are downward, consistent with gravity's direction. Option B has horizontal - directed forces (not gravity), and option C has an upward force at the ground (which would be normal force, not gravity). So only option A correctly represents the gravitational force.

Answer:

A. The model with downward - pointing force vectors on the ball throughout its motion (including when in the air and after bouncing, with the force direction being vertically downward)