Which of the following graphs would best represent acceleration versus time for the bouncing ball?

Question

The following TWO questions refer to the following information. An ideal elastic rubber ball is dropped from a height of about 2 meters, hits the floor and rebounds to its original height.

Which of the following graphs would best represent acceleration versus time for the bouncing ball?

Answer 1

Correct option

Other than the falling portions (a = –9.8m/s²) the ball should have a “spike” in the acceleration when it bounces due to the rapid change of velocity from downward to upward.