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A baseball league considers changing the rules to use a ball with a much greater mass. What effect would this have on the flight of the ball?

User Sallushan
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Answer: The ball, if thrown with the same instantaneous acceleration, and same sngle of release, would have a shorter flight time and have dropped less.

Explanation: A heavier ball could be harder to throw. It might also have a larger volume. The flight of the ball would depend on the force applied and the mass of the ball and air resistance. Suppose that the same force is applied to the standard and heavy balls, which differ in density but not volume. As they are thrown over the same distance, the drop due to gravity will depend on the time taken to the batter, which will depend on the average velocity.

Provided the mass of the ball is still within the range where maximum force can be applied by the pitcher, the initial velocity will be much the same.

Momentum, however is proportional to mass. The larger mass, all else held constant, will be decelerated more slowly by air resistance, and will arrive at the batter more quickly. If the angle of delivery is the same, the heavier ball will arrive higher because flight time was less.

The ball would arrive at the batter with more kinetic energy and impact with the bat would be harder.

User Will Sargent
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