A pitcher throws a baseball to the catcher. The ball's path begins as a straight line, and then its patch curves toward the ground. Which two forces are acting on the baseball?(1 point)
Responses
electricity and friction
electricity and friction
gravity and friction
gravity and friction
inertia and magnetism
inertia and magnetism
nuclear and inertia
gravity and friction.
The correct answer is:
gravity and friction.
The two forces acting on the baseball are gravity and friction.
To understand why, let's break it down:
1. Gravity: Gravity is a force that pulls objects toward the center of the Earth. When the pitcher throws the baseball, gravity begins to act on it immediately. Gravity pulls the baseball downward, causing it to follow a curved path towards the ground.
2. Friction: Friction is a force that opposes the motion of objects when they come into contact. In the context of the baseball, as it moves through the air, the air molecules push against it in the opposite direction of its motion. This opposing force is called air resistance or drag, which is a type of friction. The friction between the baseball and the air causes the ball to slow down and eventually come to a stop.
So in summary, gravity is responsible for pulling the baseball downward, causing its path to curve towards the ground. Friction, in the form of air resistance or drag, opposes the ball's motion through the air and slows it down.