Final answer:
Using the projectile motion equation for the horizontal component, the total time of flight for a baseball, launched at 23.0 m/s, covering a horizontal distance of 42.0 m is approximately 1.83 seconds. The calculation considers the constant horizontal velocity, providing a precise estimate for the overall time of the baseball's trajectory.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the total time of flight of the baseball, we can use the equations of motion for projectile motion. The horizontal component of velocity remains constant throughout the motion, so we can use the formula: horizontal distance = horizontal velocity * time. Plugging in the values, we can solve for time: 42.0 m = 23.0 m/s * time. Solving for time, we find that the total time of flight is approximately 1.83 seconds.