Question

A baseball coach tells her players to follow through when they swing the bat. One of the players has a swing that generates a force of 18,000 N. When the player follows through, the collision takes 0.7 milliseconds. When the player does not follow through the collision takes 0.5 milliseconds. Calculate the change in momentum in each case. Is the coach giving good advice?​

Answer 1

The change in momentum when the player follows through is greater than when they don't. The coach is giving good advice.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to calculate the change in momentum in each case, we need to use the formula:

change in momentum = force × time

When the player follows through, the force generated is 18,000 N and the collision takes 0.7 milliseconds. Plugging these values into the formula, we get:

change in momentum = 18,000 N × 0.7 ms = 12,600 kg·m/s

When the player does not follow through, the force generated is the same at 18,000 N, but the collision takes 0.5 milliseconds. Plugging these values into the formula, we get:

change in momentum = 18,000 N × 0.5 ms = 9,000 kg·m/s

Therefore, the change in momentum is greater when the player follows through. The coach is giving good advice, as following through results in a greater change in momentum.