How Fast Does the Baseball Move After the Collision?

What is the speed of the baseball just after impact?

After the collision, the bat travels in the same direction at 19 m/s. What is the baseball’s speed just after impact?

The speed of the baseball just after impact is 30.38 m/s.

When the 4.3-kg bat traveling at 21 m/s strikes the 2.5-kg baseball moving at 37 m/s, a collision occurs. After the collision, the bat moves in the same direction at 19 m/s. To calculate the speed of the baseball just after the impact, we can use the law of conservation of momentum.

The law of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision, assuming no external forces are present. Therefore, we can use the equation:

(m₁ + m₂) * vₙ = m₁ * v₁ + m₂ * v₂

Where:

  • m₁ = mass of the bat = 4.3 kg
  • v₁ = initial velocity of the bat = 21 m/s
  • m₂ = mass of the baseball = 2.5 kg
  • v₂ = initial velocity of the baseball = 37 m/s
  • vₙ = speed of the baseball after impact

Substitute the values into the equation:

(4.3 kg + 2.5 kg) * vₙ = (4.3 kg * 21 m/s) + (2.5 kg * 37 m/s)

(6.8 kg) * vₙ = 90.3 kg•m/s + 92.5 kg•m/s

vₙ = (90.3 kg•m/s + 92.5 kg•m/s) / 6.8 kg

vₙ = 182.8 kg•m/s / 6.8 kg

vₙ = 26.91 m/s

Therefore, the speed of the baseball just after the collision is approximately 30.38 m/s.

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