Average force question?

Question

A baseball (m = 154 g) approaches a bat horizontally at a speed of 40.6 m/s (90.8 mi/h) and is hit straight back at a speed of 54.0 m/s (121 mi/h). If the ball is in contact with the bat for a time of 1.03 ms, what is the average force exerted on the ball by the bat? Neglect the weight of the bat, since it is so much less than the force of the bat. Choose the direction of the incoming ball as the positive direction.

Answer 1

Use the equation:

(change in momentum) = (average force)·(time)

You can calculate the change in momentum from knowing the ball's mass, and its initial and final velocities. They give you the "time" part. Solve for "average force."