when you kick a ball are you doing any work on the ball while your toe is in contact with it?

Answer 1

It depends.

I assume this is question from your homework/teacher. It is a fair bet that they want you to think.

SO, think about the "word definition" of WORK -- something like "a force acting upon an object to cause a displacement."

Now also think about some situations that are similar but I there is no work done on the ball:

A) you kick a giant iron ball that has been welding into place near the front of bridge __ NO work becuase NO displacement

B) a rubber playground ball is thrown at your foot while you are sitting at you desk and it bounce back toward the thrower __ NO work becuase YOU did NOTHING to ACT upon the ball

C) a punter gets the football snapped to him and he steps up and kicks his leg forward but misses the ball and it smacks into a rushing defender __ NO work UPON the BALL by the punter

D) An acrobat/juggler skillfully balances a ball upon his toe while he uses the other foot to rollerblade across the room __NO work BY THE TOE UPON the BALL (but I would accept that the other foot is doing ALOT of work to displace the juggler horizontally)

Is the situation like any of these? If so than MAYBE no work, but IF (and this is a big IF) there is FORCE DURING THE CONTACT OF YOUR TOE that causes the ball to MOVE then there is work...

Answer 2

if u displace the ball in the process(during contact), then yeah.

Answer 3

yes, when we r kick a ball , i.e we are doing a work on it......