29. A major-league pitcher can throw a baseball in excess of 41.0 m/s. If a ball is thrown horizontally at this speed, how much will it drop by the time it reaches a catcher who is 17.0 m away from the point of release?

Ignoring air resistance the horizontal velocity is a constant 41.0 m/s, since we know the distance is 17.0 m we can calculate how long it takes the ball to travel horizontally.

 

Solving for t

Now consider vertical motion

Since the acceleration is g down and the initial y velocity is zero.

 

 

Note: Book answer of 0.844 m is due to rounding along the way.

 

 

Please send any comments or questions about this page to ddonovan@nmu.edu

This page last updated on January 11, 2020