Hit a home run

Posted 18 February 2010

Whack that baseball!
When you hit a baseball, speed, angle and air resistance all affect how far it travels. Balls hit too low quickly return to Earth; balls hit too high travel a long way vertically, but not far horizontally. Can you find the “sweet spot” where horizontal travel is greatest. Can you find the best angle?

Air resistance absorbs kinetic energy from the ball, slowing it. A slow-moving ball has less travel time before gravity pulls it back to Earth. Change air resistance by choosing a different stadium location.