Is Acceleration Different During a Baseball's Flight?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the acceleration of a baseball during its flight after being hit as a pop fly. It clarifies that the acceleration remains constant at 9.8 m/s² downward, regardless of whether the ball is ascending or descending. The acceleration does not change at the top of the flight; it is always directed downward due to gravity. The confusion arises from the ball's velocity, which changes direction but does not affect the constant acceleration. Ultimately, the acceleration is the same throughout the ball's flight.
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Homework Statement



A batter hits a pop fly straight up.
a) Is the acceleration of the ball on the way up different from its acceleration on the way down? (YES / NO)
b) Is the acceleration of the ball at the top of its flight different from its acceleration just before it lands?Yes / No?

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


a. There is no difference in acceleration on the way up & down.
b. Yes. I was wondering at the top of its flight the ball slows down and the ball doesn't slow down right before it lands. Am I correct?

Thanks in advance
 
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b) No. Slowing down or speeding up depends on the direction of the velocity, not on the acceleration due to gravity, which is always in the downward direction.
 
a) Upwards the acceleration is gravity and downwards the acceleration is gravity...the initial veloicty may be positive but the acceleration is not, once the ball is hit, it has negative acceleration.
 

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