Momentum - Baseball Homework: Average Force, Direction

In summary, a 0.145 kg baseball, pitched horizontally at 39.0 m/s, strikes a bat and is popped straight up to a height of 37.0 m. Using the equations p=mv and F=p/t, a student attempted to find the magnitude of the average force between the ball and bat during contact, but their answer was incorrect. They then attempted to use the equations v^2=2gh and F=p/t to find the initial velocity and magnitude of the average force, but were still incorrect. The correct magnitude of the average force is 6900 N. To find the direction of the average force, one must use the angle formed by the vectors of velocity and the direction of the initial pitch
  • #1
tiggrulz13
12
0

Homework Statement


A 0.145 kg baseball pitched horizontally at 39.0 m/s strikes a bat and is popped straight up to a height of 37.0 m. (a)If the contact time between bat and ball is 1.0 ms, calculate the magnitude of the average force between the ball and bat during contact. (b)Find the direction of the average force on the ball.

Homework Equations


p=mv
F=p/t


The Attempt at a Solution


This seemed like a really simple problem to me, but Mastering Physics said my answer was wrong. I tried to find momentum using p=mv, p= 0.145 kg(39.0 m/s) = 5.655
Then I plugged this into F=p/t and got F=5.655/0.001 s =5655N, which it said was wrong. Am I missing something? What do I do with the height?
Also I don't know what to do with part b at all.
 
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  • #2
tiggrulz13 said:

Homework Statement


A 0.145 kg baseball pitched horizontally at 39.0 m/s strikes a bat and is popped straight up to a height of 37.0 m. (a)If the contact time between bat and ball is 1.0 ms, calculate the magnitude of the average force between the ball and bat during contact. (b)Find the direction of the average force on the ball.

Homework Equations


p=mv
F=p/t


The Attempt at a Solution


This seemed like a really simple problem to me, but Mastering Physics said my answer was wrong. I tried to find momentum using p=mv, p= 0.145 kg(39.0 m/s) = 5.655
Then I plugged this into F=p/t and got F=5.655/0.001 s =5655N, which it said was wrong. Am I missing something? What do I do with the height?
Also I don't know what to do with part b at all.

The height should give you the initial velocity after leaving the bat shouldn't it?
 
  • #3
How would you do that?
 
  • #5
Ok, I tried using x=xo + vot + 1/2at^2 to find the initial velocity after leaving the bat, but I got a huge number:
37=0 + Vo(0.001) + 1/2 (39/.001)(.001)^2
Vo=36980.5 m/s
I'm sorry, for some reason I'm just not getting it tonight.
I also thought about using conservation of energy to find V and got:
1/2mv^2 +mgh = 1/2mv^2 + mgh
1/2(.145)(39)^2 + 0 = 1/2(.145)V^2 + (.145)(9.8)(37)
and i got v=28.2099 m/s
 
  • #6
tiggrulz13 said:
Ok, I tried using x=xo + vot + 1/2at^2 to find the initial velocity after leaving the bat, but I got a huge number:
37=0 + Vo(0.001) + 1/2 (39/.001)(.001)^2
Vo=36980.5 m/s
I'm sorry, for some reason I'm just not getting it tonight.
I also thought about using conservation of energy to find V and got:
1/2mv^2 +mgh = 1/2mv^2 + mgh
1/2(.145)(39)^2 + 0 = 1/2(.145)V^2 + (.145)(9.8)(37)
and i got v=28.2099 m/s

Consider using the V2 = 2gh relationship to figure the vertical initial velocity. (At its height its V is 0.)

Now you have a system that had MV in the positive x direction get changed to MV in the positive up direction in .001 second.
 
  • #7
I used the v^2 = 2gh equation to get v=26.9295
I then plugged this into the F=p/t equation:
F = 0.145(39-26.9295) / 0.001
F=1750.22
and that was wrong - and I don't have anymore attempts left on that part, apparently the correct answer was 6900 N.

For the second part I need to find the direction (theta) of the average force. How do I go about doing that?

(I'm sorry if I'm taking a lot of your time, thank you for trying to help me, for some reason physics is just not clicking with me tonight)
 
  • #8
tiggrulz13 said:
I used the v^2 = 2gh equation to get v=26.9295
I then plugged this into the F=p/t equation:
F = 0.145(39-26.9295) / 0.001
F=1750.22
and that was wrong - and I don't have anymore attempts left on that part, apparently the correct answer was 6900 N.

For the second part I need to find the direction (theta) of the average force. How do I go about doing that?

(I'm sorry if I'm taking a lot of your time, thank you for trying to help me, for some reason physics is just not clicking with me tonight)

This is incorrect. Velocity is a vector.

This means that the change in velocity is a right triangle (horizontal pitch to vertical pop fly). The magnitude of the change in velocity then is given by the root sum of the squares of the two.
(26.932 + 392)1/2

Using that change in speed times the mass divided by the time is the average force applied.

As to angle then, it is the angle of the formed by the vectors of velocity - but against the direction of the initial pitch. That would then be the Tan of Vup/Vpitch above the direction the pitch arrived from.
 

1. What is momentum in the context of baseball?

Momentum in baseball is the product of an object's mass and its velocity. In simpler terms, it is the measure of an object's motion and its resistance to change in that motion.

2. How is momentum related to average force in baseball?

In baseball, average force is the change in momentum divided by the time it takes for that change to occur. This means that a larger average force will result in a greater change in momentum.

3. How does direction affect momentum in baseball?

The direction of an object's momentum is determined by the direction of its velocity. In baseball, a player can change the direction of the ball by applying a force in a specific direction, thus changing its momentum.

4. How does the mass of a baseball affect its momentum?

The mass of a baseball directly affects its momentum. A heavier baseball will have a greater momentum than a lighter baseball, assuming they are traveling at the same velocity.

5. How is momentum used in baseball to improve performance?

Momentum is used in baseball to improve performance by understanding how it affects different components of the game, such as hitting, pitching, and fielding. By understanding momentum, players can make strategic decisions to maximize their performance and impact the game in a positive way.

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