Projectile Motion and Relative Motion Principles

[kayleech]

Homework Statement

A baseball player is running with the ball and throws it to first base in an attempt to get the runner out. Describe the considerations the player must take into account in order to be successful. Include the concepts of projectile motion and relative motion principles.

This was a question in my textbook and I would be very interested to know how to answer this using the above terms correctly.

Thanks!

 

[kanzure]

Classically, the book is probably asking about the speed of the runner trying to get to home base, and the speed of the ball. But more realistically, there are tons of variables that you can consider: the spin of the baseball, the friction due to the shoes and dirt on the runners, the amount of force relayed to the ball upon throwing, etc.

- Bryan