Question

The fastest pitched baseball was measured at 46 m/s . A baseball has a mass of 148 g .

A. If the pitcher exerted his force (assumed to be horizontal and constant) over a distance of 1.1 m , what force did he produce on the ball during this record-setting pitch?

B. Make free-body diagram of the ball during the pitch.

C. Make free-body diagram of the ball just after it has left the pitcher's hand.

Answer 1

A )

v = 46 m /s

m = 148 grams = 0.148 kg

d = 1.1 m

we have a = v² / 2d

a = 46² / 2 X 1.1

a = 2116 / 2.2

a = 961.81 m/s²

but we have F = ma

F = 0.148 X 961.81

F = 142.34 N

B .

W is the weight

then W = m X g

during the pitch it will be gravity will be down

and it will be positive

C )

N is the normal force and it is upward direction

| W | this is the weight when the ball just after it has left the pitcher's hand