When a batter hits a baseball, the ball often goes much faster than the bat. It may travel 45 m/s! Explain how that can happen. Does hitting a ball violate the conservation of energy?

Question

Physics

Brittany Sosa

6 May, 19:33

When a batter hits a baseball, the ball often goes much faster than the bat. It may travel 45 m/s! Explain how that can happen. Does hitting a ball violate the conservation of energy?

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Answers (1)

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Briley · Answer 1

Answer: Law of conservation of energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but change from one form to another. When a batter hits a baseball, the momentum gets transferred from baseball to ball.

Momentum, P = m v = constant

Energy = P²/2 m = constant

Since, the mass of the ball is much smaller than the bat, it gains higher velocity. Hence, it can happen that the ball travels much faster than the bat and it does not violate law of conservation of energy.