Bat and Ball Projects

Abstract

Twelve simple projects are described in this chapter that you can undertake at home or elsewhere. The projects deal with the flight of balls through the air and the properties of bats and balls. The object of each project is to get you thinking about the physics of baseball and softball. The best way to do that is to undertake a few experiments yourself. You can play or watch baseball or softball for your whole life without ever thinking about the physics behind it. But if you do start thinking about it, then you will probably be surprised that there is much more physics in the game than you ever thought possible. Depending on your background and interests, a baseball or softball game can be viewed as a whole series of physics experiments, an exercise in psychology or biomechanics, or just simply a fun sport to play and watch. To others, it is more important than any of those things. It is matter of life and death.

In the matter of physics, the first lessons should contain nothing but what is experimental and interesting to see. A pretty experiment is in itself often more valuable than twenty formulae extracted from our minds.

– Albert Einstein