what causes a ball to follow a curved path when you throw it?

Answer 1

There are 2 curves involved with a thrown ball.
Gravity causes one and air pressure causes the other.
The force of gravity will accelerate the ball toward the ground and create a parabolic curve.
A ball that has no spin, like a pitcher's knuckleball will curve unpredictably. One that does has spin will curve in a direction that is tangential to the axis of rotation. Topspin on a tennisball or pingpong ball will cause it to drop sharply, whereas with backspin the ball will almost float to the back line. In those examples the axis of rotation is parallel to the ground. With a pitcher's curveball, the axis of rotation is nearly vertical and the curve will be to the left or right depending on which direction the ball spons. This curve is caused by the air's interaction with the spinning ball.

Answer 2

I assume you are talking about a curve ball. If you imagine a ball on the computer screen spinning clockwise and moving upwards, there is a partial increase in air pressure at about 10:30 (imagine a clock face) due to the spin pushing air up, and a partial decrease at 1:30 due to the spin pushing air down. As the ball moves up the screen, it slides towards the right. The faster the ball spins, the greater the curve.

Answer 3

The Horizental velocity makes it move forward while the vertical one makes it fall to the ground. The combination (resultant) makes a curved path.

Answer 4

with a baseball there are laces that grab the air and affect the air resistance differently according to how you throw it causing a curve or deviation from the straight line

Answer 5

Gravity.

Answer 6

gravity is accelerating the ball downwards at -9.8m/s^2
therefore the ball would grow closer and closer every second it is in the air.