In a 1-g field, it would be hard to hit a ball made of solid metal very far. Would it be different in lower gravity? I'm thinking yes, but want to make sure. And I guess I'd have to have a solid metal bat, too, right? Even in lower gravity, I'd think hitting a metal ball would splinter a wooden bat.
By the way, thanks everyone for the great answers yesterday to my other question.
2006-07-07 06:55:53 · 10 answers · asked by MissNormaD 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes, in a lower gravity field, the metal ball would travel much farther after it is hit.
The speed it travels would not change however. The ball would drop to the ground at a slower rate, so the path of its travel would be flatter and it would travel a longer ways before it came to rest, but you would still be imparting the same amount of kinetic energy to the same mass, and so the velocity of the projectile would remain the same regardless of the gravity field.
Note that the kinetic energy of the projectile also remains the same. So a wooden bat that would splinter under normal gravity would also splinter in lower gravity. The thrown ball would also hurt just as much as if you were hit by it, so I wouldn't recommend trying to hit it with your finger.
2006-07-07 07:03:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is an issue of collision types. A metal bat (assuming a hard metal like steel) has an elastic collision, which means that the momentum of the bat transfers into the ball. Since momentum is not truly related to gravity, the effects are the same in normal gravity and low gravity.
It terms of distance, it depends on how the ball is hit. A line drive will go farther as it will take longer for it to fall in a low gravity field. A pop-up directly above you will go higher, but only slightly farther. A ground ball will go roughly the same distance as it hits the ground early on and its motion is then primarily effected by friction. (A grounder with bounces will have longer bounces and will go farther, but not as much as a line drive.)
Hope that helps.
2006-07-07 14:26:15 · answer #2 · answered by Ѕємι~Мαđ ŠçїєŋŧιѕТ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In zero gravity; if you hit a ball; it will keep going until it encounters a gravitational field. Wood bat will splinter; but ball will move regardless in zero G ; just not as fast as say a metal bat. It would move at higher velocity, but also will go on forever unless same thing happens and it encounters gravity again.
In micro Gravity; both balls will move further in distance than 1G field; but the ball hit by metal bat moves at higher velocity.
Think softball game and Team1 uses wood bats and Team2 uses aluminum bats. Which team will take the head off of the pitcher with one swing? The only constant is the ball's molecular density and its known mass.
Newton's Laws come into play here.
2006-07-07 14:13:56 · answer #3 · answered by ed53067 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, that all depends on how low the gravity is... you only said "lower" gravity. On the contrary, if the gravity is low enough, the solid metal ball would definitely NOT crack a wooden bat.
How difficult would it be to hit? Well that all depends on how fast it's going on it's way towards you.
You posed a question with too many unknown variables. Not only that, why do you care? Plan to play baseball on the moon any time soon???
2006-07-07 13:59:35 · answer #4 · answered by absolut_sicilian 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on the speed at which the metal ball is traveling. If it is floating by in zero gravity at one mile an hour, I can hit it out of the park with a toothpick. If it is traveling at 100mph then a metal bat will be bent around the ball.
You need to understand that in zero gravity or 1g or 10g, all matter has a property called inertia. Inertia makes the difference to your questions.
2006-07-07 14:02:44 · answer #5 · answered by my_alias_id 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure, you could hit a metal ball for miles with your finger if the gravity was low enough. No need for a metal bat!
2006-07-07 13:57:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What causes the bat to splinter is the fact that a metal ball of the same size as a normal ball would exert a greater force due to its greater mass. The material is irrelevant.
2006-07-07 14:11:42 · answer #7 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
although the weight would be less the mass of the object would be the same. But yes you would hit the ball further in lower gravity because it will not fall as fast.
2006-07-07 14:00:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
miles seems unreasonable. maybe, as far as a proffesional baseball player, not the most famous, like the Great Bambino Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig, maybe like... Frank Thomas sized home runs with metal bat and ball low gravity.
2006-07-07 14:00:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
earth gravity= 1g.
2006-07-07 14:01:39 · answer #10 · answered by Journey 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋