Explain the motion of a baseball and the forces acting upon it as it leaves the pitcher’s hand and travels toward the batter at home plate. Identify the term applied to this type of motion.
The motion of a baseball as it leaves the pitcher's hand and travels toward the batter at home plate can be described as projectile motion. Projectile motion is the curved path followed by an object, called a projectile, that is launched into the air and moves under the influence of gravity.
As the pitcher throws the baseball, several forces act upon it. The main forces involved in this motion are:
1. Thrust/Force of the pitcher: The pitcher applies force to the baseball, propelling it forward. This force gives the ball its initial velocity and determines how fast it leaves the pitcher's hand.
2. Gravity: Once the ball is released, the force of gravity acts upon it continuously. Gravity pulls the ball downward, causing it to gradually fall throughout its trajectory. The effect of gravity influences the height and range of the ball's flight.
3. Air resistance/Drag: As the baseball moves through the air, it experiences air resistance. This force opposes the ball's direction of motion and slows it down. The influence of air resistance on a baseball's flight is relatively small compared to other factors.
Combining the forces of thrust, gravity, and air resistance, the baseball follows a curved path. At the moment of release, the ball typically has an upward trajectory due to the pitcher's motion and the grip on the ball. However, as soon as it leaves the pitcher's hand, the ball starts to curve downward due to the gravitational force acting on it.
The overall motion and forces acting on the baseball can be further influenced by the spin and velocity imparted by the pitcher. These factors affect the magnitude and direction of the forces acting upon the ball, resulting in different types of pitches (e.g., fastball, curveball, slider) with diverse trajectories.
To summarize, the motion of a baseball leaving the pitcher's hand and traveling toward the batter at home plate is projectile motion. The main forces acting upon the ball are the thrust or force of the pitcher, gravity, and air resistance. These forces determine the path, velocity, and overall behavior of the baseball during its flight.