explain how you could find kinetic energy when a baseball hits a window
To find the kinetic energy when a baseball hits a window, you would need to know the mass of the baseball and its velocity just before the collision.
1. Determine the mass of the baseball:
You can find the mass of the baseball by using a scale or referring to the standard weight of a baseball, which is around 145 grams or 0.145 kilograms.
2. Measure the velocity of the baseball before the collision:
To measure the velocity, you can use a radar gun specifically designed for measuring the speed of projectiles or a high-speed camera that can capture the motion of the baseball. By capturing the motion, you can analyze the distance traveled over a specific time period to determine the velocity.
3. Use the kinetic energy formula:
The formula for kinetic energy is KE = 0.5 * mass * velocity^2.
Having determined the mass of the baseball and the velocity just before the collision, you can substitute these values into the formula to calculate the kinetic energy.
For example, if the mass of the baseball is 0.145 kg and the velocity just before the collision is 25 meters per second (m/s), the calculation would be as follows:
KE = 0.5 * 0.145 kg * (25 m/s)^2
KE = 0.5 * 0.145 kg * 625 m^2/s^2
KE = 45.3125 Joules (J)
Therefore, the kinetic energy when the baseball hits the window would be approximately 45.3125 Joules.