Science Niblets

Why hitting a ball yields much more speed than throwing it

May 08, 2012 | Author: Elmar Bergeler

Have you ever wondered why a hit ball moves much faster than a thrown ball? Basically, all the ball's moving energy comes from the athlete. But somehow you can give more energy to the ball when you hit it than when you throw it.

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Curving on a flat track and on a banked track

April 17, 2012 | Author: Elmar Bergeler

Roller skating on a banked track Regardless of whether you curve on a track in roller derby or on a motorway in NASCAR: if the track is banked, curving is easier than on a flat track and you can go faster. The reason lies in the circular force.

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Using physics to throw, kick, and hit balls further

February 03, 2012 | Author: Elmar Bergeler

A common goal in many sports is to throw, kick, or hit a ball as far as possible. To reach this goal is simple: you apply all the force you have to the ball. But that's not all. You also have to choose the best launch angle. The angle plays an important role in determining the distance that flying objects travel.

Throw parabola

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Physics of a curveball

October 22, 2011 | Author: Elmar Bergeler

Since the Texas Rangers are in the World Series again, I thought about the physics of pitching curveballs. If you know the science behind it, you probably don't pitch better curveballs, but it's interesting to know why the ball moves the way it does. But let me know if it actually helps to improve your pitching.

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Science Niblets

The Science Behind Everyday Topics

Why hitting a ball yields much more speed than throwing it

Curving on a flat track and on a banked track

Using physics to throw, kick, and hit balls further

Physics of a curveball