Physics of Baseball

The Physics of Baseball

Marissa Young

AP Physics 1

Period 4

Abstract

Have you ever been at a baseball game and watched as some players hit home runs and others could barely make contact? Or why despite the pitcher's team or whether they were lefty or righty, they all generally follow the same motion? This project will go in depth into the physics behind baseball. You will learn about which types of pitches are easiest and hardest to hit, the motions a pitcher should follow to gain maximum control over the ball, and much more about how a ball's spin impacts the batter's ability to hit it. I will go through the common pitches such as fastballs, curveballs, and knuckleballs as well as how to throw them, and why some may be hit farther and others not as far. I will also discuss other forces that impact a ball's motion, like drag, gravity, Magnus force, normal force, and frictional force. My research also discusses the difference between centerline angle and attack angle and how depending on where you hit the ball, the ball's motion will be impacted. I used a variety of sources for my research that all can be found in the "Works Cited" page in either the research paper or the slides presentation.

The Physics of Baseball Research Paper
The Physics of Baseball Presentation