Newton's third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law helps explain why a ball bounces back when it hits a wall, while a brick falls down or breaks upon hitting the wall.
When a ball collides with a wall, it exerts a force on the wall, and according to Newton's third law, the wall exerts an equal and opposite force on the ball. This force causes the ball to bounce back. The elasticity of the ball allows it to deform upon impact and then regain its original shape, resulting in the bouncing motion. The ball's ability to store and release energy during the collision is what enables it to rebound.
On the other hand, a brick does not possess the same level of elasticity as a ball. When a brick hits a wall, the force exerted by the wall is typically greater than the internal forces within the brick, causing it to deform or break rather than bounce back. The brick lacks the ability to store and release energy efficiently, resulting in its downward motion or fragmentation upon collision with the wall.
In summary, the difference in the response of a ball and a brick to hitting a wall can be explained by their respective levels of elasticity and their ability to store and release energy during the collision. Newton's third law of motion provides the foundational principle that the force exerted by the ball on the wall is equal and opposite to the force exerted by the wall on the ball.