What is the average force exerted on a baseball during a pitch?

[XPX1]

Homework Statement

In baseball, a pitcher can accelerate a 0.15 kg ball from rest to 90 mi/h in a distance of 1.6 m.
(a) What is the magnitude of the average force exerted on the ball during the pitch?
____N

Homework Equations

a=d/t
xf=xi+vixt+1/2(a)t^2
Fnet=ma

The Attempt at a Solution

I know that to find out this problem I need to find out the Fnet. I know that Fnet=ma but how do I find out the a!?

I know to figure out acceleration its distance/time but..

How do I figure out acceleration? This is getting really frustrating. It gets to 90 mi/hr in 1.6m.

Does mass have anything to do with finding out the acceleration? Please help!

 

[cristo]

I know to figure out acceleration its distance/time but..

How do I figure out acceleration? This is getting really frustrating. It gets to 90 mi/hr in 1.6m.

Does mass have anything to do with finding out the acceleration? Please help!

Acceleration is *not* distance/time. Velocity is distance/time, whereas acceleration is rate of change of velocity (i.e. velocity/time)

 

[XPX1]

Also, what does it mean by (a) what is the magnitude of the average force exerted on the ball during the pitch!?

 

[XPX1]

I don't know what vi=?

is vi=90? or is that vf?

 

[Hootenanny]

Also, what does it mean by (a) what is the magnitude of the average force exerted on the ball during the pitch!?

The magnitude is simply the size of the force exerted on the ball; $|\vec{F}| = m|\vec{a}|$

I don't know what vi=?
is vi=90? or is that vf?

V_i is the intial velocity, so yes, v_i=90mi/h. It would however, be sensible to convert this speed into m/s.

 

[XPX1]

Any help on how to plug this in? Now that I have the velocity, I need to find the time, dang these problems are confusing, how do I figure out the time!?

 

[XPX1]

any ideas?

 

[XPX1]

I have

vi=90 mi/hr
mass=0.15
xf=1.6

I can't do anything with this information! I've tried velocity versus time graphs, position versus time graphs, everything! It seems like this problem does not give me enough information to solve it!

 

[curly_ebhc]

Change vi

I'm sorry but vi is not equal to 90 mi/hr.

The initial velocity is vi=0 (the key word is at rest).

vf=90 mi/hr but this is useless until you convert to m/s.

Now you know vi, vf, xf, xi=0, so plug into your equation, do some algebra to isolate acceleration and this is easily solved.


PS. later you'll learn work-energy and it'll save you a few steps, but for now the basics.

 

[XPX1]

But.. How can I solve for acceleration if I can't solve for time!? Please help!

 

[Dorothy Weglend]

But.. How can I solve for acceleration if I can't solve for time!? Please help!

v = at, as I am sure you know. Well, it's v = v0 + at. But your v0 = 0.

You can use this to eliminate the 't' in the distance equation.

Dorothy

 

[XPX1]

That dosn't make any sense to me!

v0 = 0... Ok

v = 0+at


now how do I figure out acceleration and time!? Can somebody please do an equation of this so I can see how this works out, I've been trying to figure out this problem for 3 days now, and I've had no luck.

 

[cristo]

Homework Equations

a=d/t
xf=xi+vixt+1/2(a)t^2
Fnet=ma

I don't know whether you've finished this question yet, but I can see that your last post hasn't been answered.

Well, to start with, note that your first equation is incorrect, it should read a=v/t, and your second eqn should read xf=xi+vi*t+1/2(at^2).

Now, before calculating anything, convert the final speed vf, into m/s.

Using your first equation, obtain an expression for the acceleration, noting that vi=0, so a=vf/t, which gives t=vf/a.

Now, use the second eqn, with xi=0, vi=0, and xf=1.6m. This gives 1.6=1/2(at^2), but from above, t=vf/a, and so we can substitute this into the expression to yield 1.6=(1/2)*a*vf^2/a^2.

From here, you can calculate a (on substituting in the converted vf) and thus go on to calculate the net force, using your third equation.

 

[curly_ebhc]

Listen to cristo but add in one short cut. If you grab a physics book you will find an equation with no time. It looks something like this.

vf(squared)=vi(squared)+2ad
where v-velocity, a-acceleration and d-distance from there this should be easy.

On the last note mechanics is much easier if all 4-equations of motion are memorized for constant acceleration.

 

[cristo]

I'd definitely agree, you should memorise these equations so you can have them at your fingertips when attempting this sort of question.