Is it true that when a baseball player hits a home run, the baseball receives a greater impulse from the bat than the bat does from the ball?
Recall Newton's third law again. The answer is there.
Yes, it is true that when a baseball player hits a home run, the baseball receives a greater impulse from the bat than the bat does from the ball. This concept can be explained using Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
To understand this, let's break it down using the concept of impulse. Impulse is the change in momentum of an object and is calculated as the product of force and the time interval over which it acts. In this case, the baseball receives a greater impulse because the force exerted on it by the bat is greater compared to the force exerted on the bat by the ball.
To quantify this, we need to consider the mass and velocity of the ball and the bat. Generally, a baseball bat is much heavier and swings at a higher velocity than the baseball itself. When the bat makes contact with the ball, it imparts a force to the ball over a very short time, causing the ball to accelerate and gain momentum. The force exerted by the bat is greater due to the difference in mass between the bat and the ball.
As a result, the baseball receives a higher impulse, causing it to be propelled away from the bat with much greater speed and distance. The bat, on the other hand, experiences a smaller impulse due to the equal and opposite reaction. Hence, the baseball receives a greater impulse from the bat than the bat does from the ball, resulting in the home run.