Baseball Velocity Projectile motion

In summary, the conversation discusses two questions involving projectile motion, one with a baseball being thrown horizontally and the other with a rock being thrown off a cliff. The questions require the calculation of time, speed, and angle in order to determine the vertical and horizontal distance traveled by the objects. The formulas for projectile motion are mentioned and it is recommended to convert units for accuracy.
  • #1
cowgiljl
63
1
I just need alittle help on getting started with just the formulas.
There are just two question.

1) A baseball thrown at 100.8 mi/hr. If the pitch were thrown horizonally with this velocity how far would the ball travel vertically by the time it reaches home plate 60.0 ft away?

Do i need to worry about the time it takes?

2) If a student stands at the edge of a cliff and throws a rock horizonally over the edge with a speed of 18.0 m/s, The cliff is 50 m above a flat. How long after being released does the rock strile the beach below the cliff? With what speed and angle of the impact does it land.

I do know the the angle = tan-1 (Vy/Vx)

I am just struggling a bit on these two.

Thanks
 
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  • #2
1) A baseball thrown at 100.8 mi/hr. If the pitch were thrown horizonally with this velocity how far would the ball travel vertically by the time it reaches home plate 60.0 ft away?

Do i need to worry about the time it takes?

Well, yes, you do. You know the horizontal velocity and that there is (neglecting air resistance) no horizontal acceleration so it should be easy to determine the time a ball moving at 100.8 mi/hr takes to travel 60.0 feet (you might want to convert that speed to ft/sec). You know that there is no initial vertical speed and the vertical acceleration is -32.2 ft/sec2.

2) If a student stands at the edge of a cliff and throws a rock horizonally over the edge with a speed of 18.0 m/s, The cliff is 50 m above a flat. How long after being released does the rock strile the beach below the cliff? With what speed and angle of the impact does it land.

I do know the the angle = tan-1 (Vy/Vx)

Once again, you know that the horizontal speed, 18.0 m/s and that there is no acceleration vertically. You know that there is no initial vertical speed and the vertical acceleration is -9.8 m/s2. You should be able to write down the horizontal and vertical speed at any time t as well as the horizontal and vertical distance from the initial point. Since the rock has to go down 50 m in order to hit the beach, you need to find the time required for the vertical
distance to be -50- then use that to find the speed and angle.
 
  • #3


1) To solve this problem, we can use the formula for horizontal displacement, which is given by d = v*t, where d is the distance, v is the velocity, and t is the time. In this case, we know the velocity (100.8 mi/hr) and the distance (60.0 ft). However, we do not have the time. This is where we can use the formula for time, t = d/v, where t is the time, d is the distance, and v is the velocity. Since we are looking for the vertical displacement, we can use the vertical velocity formula, given by Vf = Vi + at, where Vf is the final velocity, Vi is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration (in this case, due to gravity), and t is the time. We know that the initial velocity is 0, since the ball is thrown horizontally. We also know that the final velocity is 0 when the ball reaches the ground. Therefore, we can rearrange the formula to solve for time, t = Vf/a. Once we have the time, we can plug it into the horizontal displacement formula to find the vertical displacement.

2) To solve this problem, we can use the formula for horizontal displacement, which is given by d = v*t, where d is the distance, v is the velocity, and t is the time. In this case, we know the velocity (18.0 m/s) and the distance (50 m). However, we do not have the time. This is where we can use the formula for time, t = d/v, where t is the time, d is the distance, and v is the velocity. Once we have the time, we can use the formula for vertical displacement, given by d = Vi*t + 1/2*a*t^2, where d is the distance, Vi is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration (in this case, due to gravity), and t is the time. We know that the initial velocity is 0, since the rock is thrown horizontally. We also know that the final displacement is -50 m, since the rock is 50 m above the ground. Therefore, we can rearrange the formula to solve for time, t = sqrt(2*d/a). Once we have the time, we can use the formula for final velocity, Vf = Vi + at, to find the final velocity. We
 

What is the relationship between baseball velocity and projectile motion?

The velocity of a baseball is an important factor in its projectile motion, as it determines the distance and height that the ball will travel. The greater the velocity, the farther and higher the ball will go before reaching its peak and falling back to the ground.

How is baseball velocity affected by air resistance?

Air resistance, also known as drag, can significantly impact the velocity of a baseball. As the ball moves through the air, it experiences a force in the opposite direction of its motion, which slows it down. This is why pitchers often throw fastballs at a higher velocity indoors, where there is less air resistance, compared to outdoors.

What factors can influence the velocity of a baseball?

The velocity of a baseball can be influenced by a variety of factors, including the force applied by the pitcher, the angle at which the ball is thrown, the density of the air, and the spin of the ball. These factors can also interact with each other, affecting the overall velocity of the ball.

How does spin affect the velocity and trajectory of a baseball?

When a baseball is thrown with spin, it experiences a phenomenon known as the Magnus effect, which causes it to curve in flight. The direction and amount of spin can influence the trajectory and velocity of the ball, allowing pitchers to throw different types of pitches with varying speeds and movements.

What is the relationship between baseball velocity and pitching mechanics?

The mechanics of a pitcher's body and arm movements play a crucial role in determining the velocity of a baseball. Proper pitching mechanics can generate more force and speed, resulting in a faster velocity. However, poor mechanics can lead to decreased velocity and potential injury to the pitcher.

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