if a baseball can really curve, then why can't we throw it around corners?

Question

I for one do not believe a baseball can curve. it can arc, but thats all. and it can't rise either unless you throw it upward.

Answer 1

because that defies the laws of inertia and motion

Answer 2

A successful major league batter gets a hit only 30 percent of the time he comes to bat. One of the ways pitchers lower these chances even further is by throwing a curveball. A curveball is a pitch that appears to be moving straight toward home plate but that is actually moving down and to the right or left by several inches. Obviously, a pitch that curves is going to be harder to hit than a fastball that is moving straight.
There are two basic factors involved in creating a curveball:

Proper grip
Air resistance
Any baseball pitch begins with how the pitcher grips the ball. To throw a curveball, a pitcher must hold the baseball between his thumb and his index and middle fingers, with the middle finger resting on the baseball seam. When the pitcher comes through his motion to throw the ball, he snaps his wrist downward as he releases the ball, which gives the ball topspin. If the pitcher throws properly, the back of the his hand will be facing the batter at the end of the motion. The ball will break down and away from a right-handed batter if thrown by a right-handed pitcher.

The spinning action created when the pitcher releases the ball is the secret behind the curveball. This spinning causes air to flow differently over the top of the ball than it does under the ball. The top of the ball is spinning directly into air and the bottom of the ball is spinning with the air flow. The air under the ball is flowing faster than air on top of the ball creating less pressure, which forces the ball to move down or curve. This imbalance of force is called the Magnus Effect, named for physicist Gustav Magnus, who discovered in 1852 that a spinning object traveling through liquid is forced to move sideways.

Adding to the air pressure exerted on the ball are the 108 red stitches that hold the cover on the ball. Because they are raised, the stitches increase the amount of friction created as the air passes around the ball and places more air pressure on top of the ball. A well thrown curveball can move as much as 17 inches either way. If you've ever seen a batter jump out of the way of a baseball that ends up crossing over the plate, you've seen a good curveball.

Answer 3

Haha what you don't realize is that air is a force acting on the ball once it is in the air. Also gravity is a force acting on the ball once it leaves your hand.
The seams of a ball make it so that airflow around the ball isn't equal in every spot on the baseball. The force of the air on the seams can drastically alter the course of a baseball. If you were throwing the ball in a vacume I would agree, but your throwing it in atmosphere.
You can in fact design a ball that you could throw around a corner. It would take some doing and you would have to have the exact right spin and velocity but it could be done.
Look at it like this. Planes can fly and that is the same principal. The air flow around the wing creates a lift condition that brings the plane off the ground. Just like when you throw a baseball the seams creat a lift condition on the ball.

Answer 4

In a closed, ideal system. A baseball cannot curve, rather it follows a strait line as there are no forces acting on the ball other than gravity. However, in real life, air resistance caused by wind can cause a ball to deflect to one side or another. As far as lift, I do not believe this is possible as the baseball produces equal pressures on the top surface and bottom surface (unlike an airfoil which produces a low pressure on top). Then again, I am by no means an expert in aerodynamics so perhaps it is still possible in real life??

Answer 5

your a freshman at 220 kilos wow and u play shortstop, i dont understand freshman baseball is quite dang undemanding to make the gang yet while u couldnt make ur center college team than lol i myself dont understand. ninety% ya yet maximum of those stats are made up and how do you have a 40 time as an 8th grader and that i dont understand you could be a freak because of the fact to be that length as a freshman is in basic terms weird and wonderful OH hi and youngster theres no way you're making an blunders each 22 video games haha guy end making sh*t up

Answer 6

But "arc ball" is much less catchy. Don't take it so literally, it's just a game!