SUMMARY
The average force applied by a 0.145-kg baseball traveling at 35.0 m/s to a catcher's mitt, which recoils backward 11.0 cm, can be calculated using the work-energy theorem. The change in kinetic energy of the baseball is equal to the average force multiplied by the distance over which the force acts. Additionally, the impulse-momentum theorem can be applied, where the product of mass and change in velocity equals the average force multiplied by the time interval.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of the work-energy theorem
- Familiarity with the impulse-momentum theorem
- Basic knowledge of kinetic energy calculations
- Ability to perform unit conversions (e.g., cm to m)
NEXT STEPS
- Study the work-energy theorem in detail
- Learn about the impulse-momentum theorem and its applications
- Practice problems involving kinetic energy and average force calculations
- Explore unit conversion techniques for physics problems
USEFUL FOR
Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of collisions and forces in sports contexts.