Law of Conservation of Momentum

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SUMMARY

The Law of Conservation of Momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant if no external forces act upon it. In the context of pitching a baseball, the momenta of the ball, pitcher, and Earth must be considered. Initially, all relative velocities are zero, and after the pitch, the momentum of the ball is equal and opposite to the momentum change of the pitcher and Earth, ensuring conservation. Angular momentum may be ignored for this specific problem, focusing solely on linear momentum.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics principles, specifically momentum.
  • Familiarity with Newton's second law (f=ma).
  • Knowledge of closed systems in physics.
  • Basic concepts of linear versus angular momentum.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of Newton's laws on momentum conservation.
  • Explore real-world applications of momentum conservation in sports physics.
  • Learn about angular momentum and its relevance in different physical scenarios.
  • Investigate the effects of external forces on momentum in various systems.
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Students studying physics, educators teaching momentum concepts, and sports scientists analyzing the mechanics of pitching in baseball.

crivea24
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Homework Statement



Apply the Law of Conservation of Momentum to the act of pitching a baseball.


Homework Equations


f=ma


The Attempt at a Solution


?
 
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Hello crivea24,

Welcome to Physics Forums!
crivea24 said:
Apply the Law of Conservation of Momentum to the act of pitching a baseball.
[...]
Here's a hint. Assume that at the beginning, before the pitch is thrown, the relative velocities of the ball, the pitcher and the Earth, are all zero. So how does Conservation of Momentum relate the momentums of the ball, the pitcher and the Earth after the pitch is thrown?

(I'm not sure if you are supposed to ignore angular momentum or not, for this problem. But no matter which way you model the system, momentum ends up being conserved, one way or the other. [as long as you model enough of the entire system such that there are no external forces or torques])
 

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