Question

A baseball is pitched at 30 m/s and hit by a bat. After leaving the bat, the ball has a velocity of 40 m/s. The ball weighs 0.14 kg. The time elapsed during the collision was 0.0020 seconds. What was the force (F) exerted on the baseball? Hint: Watch your signs of the velocities, the direction changes.

Answer 1

Force exerted on the ball, F = -4900 N

Step-by-step explanation:

It is given that,

Mass of the ball, m = 0.14 kg

Initial speed of the ball, u = +30 m/s

Final speed of the ball, v = -40 m/s (opposite direction)

Time taken, t = 0.002 s

Let F is the force exerted on the baseball. We know that the force exerted on an object is equal to the product of mass and acceleration. Using second law of motion, the force is given by :

F = ma

`F=m* (v-u)/(t)`

`F=0.14* (-40-30)/(0.002)`

F = -4900 N

So, the force exerted on the baseball is -4900 N and it is exerted in opposite direction. Hence, this is the required solution.