] From that you can work out the speed and spin of the
ball before and after it bounces. Similarly, an impact
at the node of the second mode will not excite the second mode but it will
excite the fundamental mode. When a wake is pushed down, a fastball is pushed up. Newton's third law says that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Initially, the force
on the handle is in the opposite direction to the motion of the handle. The size and weight of the bat is a matter of personal preference, but it is important to remember that a bat must be approved by the league in order to be used in official games. Regardless of age, the weight of the right handers bat is crucial. /R [52 74 308 585 ] The COR for a collision between the bat and the ball is less than
0.59 when energy is lost to vibrations, but can be greater than 0.59 if the bat
has a trampoline effect on the ball. On average, players aged 15 to 17 hit 140 feet, while players aged 16 to 18 hit 150 feet, and players aged 18 to 19 hit 165 feet. Hitting the "sweet spot" is something that baseball players strive for. ,
231-232 (2001). >> /N 10 0 R Then can't we add to the list of deeper queries some of . Ash bats, on the other hand, are more flexible, making them perfect for contact hitters. endobj /R [52 73 308 791 ] Cylinder 2 (500
Hz) Cylinder 3
(200 Hz), Compare sounds here
(recorded with a signal generator connected to a speaker). For example, a 33-inch bat with a -3 rating weighs 30 ounces. When he's not busy exploring the mysteries of the universe, George enjoys hiking and spending time with his family. Explains r. cross, "the sweet spot of a baseball bat," american journal of physics, 66, 772-779. It's where the wood grain is strongest. Baseball bats (typically aluminum) are made up of either hardwood or metal. Definition. You can actually hear where the sweet spot is just by tapping a bat yourself. Wind farms have different impacts on the environment compared to conventional power plants, but similar concerns exist over both the noise produced by the turbine blades and the . How is this spot and its behavior described in Mechanics? >> /P 23 0 R If the bat approaches a ball incident at speed vin
then. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( At room temperature, it will go from a solid to a gas directly. Concentration. A first
guess would be at the tip of the bat since the tip travels the fastest. Thats the sweet spot. A baseball bat is shaped in such a way to have a "sweet spot." The sweet spot is due to the fact that the CP and the VN coincide. The ball bounces backward spinning counter-clockwise. Hitting a ball incorrectly can make a wooden bat break due to the grain of the wood. The sweet spot of a bat exists because bat vibrations
are not excited significantly at that spot. If you are between the ages of three and nine and weigh less than 60 pounds, you should buy a 28-inch bat if your height is between three and four inches. When a player has a bad hit and fails to hit the "sweet spot", it causes vibrations which can cause the bat to bend or break. /R as well as the force at right angles to that, given
by M (dV/dt). At the major league level, maple bats now account for 75% to 80% of all bats. The ball is spinning clockwise before it bounces and
hits the granite block with backspin. A lot has been learned over the years but more experiments need to
be done to better understand how the ball bounces and how much spin it acquires
when it bounces. What are the physics of hitting a baseball? Take a hammer in the other hand and gently tap the bat at various places along its length. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Since it's vibrations that hurt your grip, the sweet spot is clearly the point where an impacting ball doesn't cause the bat to. The faster the hit ball travels, the longer it should travel. %
The Sweet Science. The direction of the centripetal force is toward the
center of the circle followed by the path of the CM. MLB . I simply wanted to
know whether a hand launched ball spins at around 100 rpm or whether it could
be as high as 1000 rpm. Its harder than football, harder than baseball, harder than basketball, harder than hockey or soccer or cycling or skiing or fishing or billiards or any other of the 60 sports we rated. A rough estimate would be that the ball rotates 1/4 revolution
while it is in the pitchers hand,
and while the hand moves forward say the last 0.2 m. If the
hand moves forward at 10 m/s =
22.4 mph then it moves 0.2 m in 0.02 sec, so the spin rate would be 12.5
rev/s or 750 rpm. A batsman during a cricket game aiming his shot to hit the sweet spot of the bat. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Copyright 2009-2023 real-world-physics-problems.com. 10 0 obj White ash, sugar maple, true hickory, yellow birch, red oak, and Japanese ash are the six wood types that can be used in bats in Major League Baseball. Its moment of inertia about
an axis through its center of mass is 0.184 kg.m^2. The answer
depends on how fast each bat can be swung. For the purposes of this paper, I will attempt to examine the . Step up to the batters box and get warmed up for the physics of baseball bats with this, You can get into the real nitty gritty of the science of MOI including complex equations by clicking through to the complete, If you have two bats, each with the same weight the bat that carries more weight in the end will perform better in terms of speed. The bat slows down after the collision (bat speed approximately cut in half), but the bat continues to rotate as a rigid object with no vibration. endobj q varies from about zero near the tip of the bat to about
0.2 or 0.3 further along the barrel, and needs to be measured for any given bat
since it is usually too hard to calculate. The weight of a bat can be calculated by subtracting the minus number from the length, which in this case is 33 minus -3, equaling 30 ounces. >> event : evt, Every bat has a sweet spot.. When a very light bat is swing velocity at maximum, it has little power to transfer to the ball. A 28-inch bat should be ideal for anyone weighing 61 pounds or more who has a height of between 61 and 80 pounds. Why? If the ball is at rest (when striking a ball off a
T ) then. Adding to that is the fact that bats have narrower handles than in the past which makes the bat less sturdy and more prone to breakage. It would therefore not be surprising if a softball can be pitched at
say 1000 rpm. Join PopSci+ to read sciences greatest stories. /Gamma [1.8 1.8 1.8] That is, a large fraction of the
stored elastic energy in the wall is retained as vibrational energy in the bat. When you hit a ball just right, you've hit it on one of the three "sweet spots" of the bat. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The sweet spot of a baseball bat, like that of a tennis racket, can be defined either in terms of a vibration node or a centre of percussion. A bat that is too light also hampers the development of a solid, level swing. 1) Hit with the label up Manufacturers always place the label on the face of the grain. 2 5 8 on a bat simply refers to the weight of the bat in ounces. 15 0 obj })(); Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, The Ultimate Guide to Baseball-Themed Online Slot Games, How To Hem Baseball Pants: A Step-by-Step Guide For Customizing Your Look. the location where coefficient of restitution is maximum. To squarely hit a fastball, everything has to . /N 19 0 R This is because physics plays a major role in how the bat interacts with the ball. A good power hitters bat is an end-loaded one, which allows the player to hit the ball farther. Softer and less dense varieties of maple that are more likely to break have been banned by Major League Baseball. The ball will
rotate about 1/2 a revolution from the initial grip to the release point, in
about 0.1 sec or less. Maple and ash are the most commonly used materials in major league baseball. forms: { The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". However, there are many variables in experiments
like these. What is the fluid speed in a fire hose with a 9.00 cm diameter carrying 80.0 l of water per second? Boxing. The collision of a bat and a ball can be understood by
treating the bat as a heavy ball whose mass depends on the impact point. endobj We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. With each hit, you should hear and feel the vibrations (make it easier by taping a paper cone around the knob, loosely enough that it will vibrate when the bat does). << A ball that would travel 400 feet in "normal" conditions goes: 6 feet farther if the altitude is 1,000 feet higher 4 feet farther if the air is 10 degrees warmer 4 feet farther if the ball is 10 degrees warmer 4 feet farther if the barometer drops 1 inch of mercury 3 1/2 feet farther if the pitcher is . Joe Jackson, a shoeless man, would prefer a custom-built bat known as Black Betsy. In principle you could also work out the
acceleration due to gravity in Sydney, but not very accurately. Impact at the end of the bat (outside the sweetspot) causes the bat to vibrate violently after the collision. Taking
the rotation rate as 3/8 revolution / 0.04 sec gives 9.4 revolutions / sec or
560 rpm. << /R [52 73 308 791 ] A ball takes on a different shape as it is hit because the force of the bat pushing against it is multiplied by its mass. The bat is 84 cm long, and has a mass of 849 gram. Second, we give a simplified abstract form of bat which facilitates the description and modeling study. << The node is related to where the sweet spot is - where the bat does NOT bend or vibrate. If the ball didn't bounce at all then COR would be zero. For that reason, the walls of a hollow bat need to be
relatively stiff so they can vibrate at a frequency larger than 1000 Hz. The bat is 84 cm long, and has a mass of 849 gram. Since little of the bats energy is lost to vibrations when this spot is hit, more can go to the ball. >> This is similarly done for tennis rackets and baseball bats. >> 4) Good quality bat grip Investing in a good quality bat grip will help improve your grip and increase your odds of hitting the ball in the sweet spot which can reduce the chances of breakage. It was found, by
measuring the frequencies of lots of aluminum tubes (see photo) that the frequency is directly
proportional to the wall thickness and inversely proportional to the tube
diameter squared. << When it comes to bats, one inch in length is equivalent to an ounce of weight. So grab your bat and lets dive into the science behind the swing! The third law explains what happens to a bat when it strikes a ball. Adair provides a few answers in his book The Physics of Baseball but he does not give the directions or
the torques. 19 0 obj According to one study, Brazils free-tailed bats have the fastest flight speeds ever documented by flying at 160 kilometers per hour in flight. Aluminum tubes are 24 to 35 inches (61 to 89 centimeters) long and 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 centimeters) in diameter for making an aluminum bat. Dont store your bat in your garage or trunk of your car, bring it inside. Current research on the physics and science behind the game of cricket centers on the performance of the batsmen and bowlers. When a ball player hits the ball with the bat, it produces an enormous amount of force on the bat in a split second - the impact could mean up to 5,000 lbs of force. >> J,g]g+e/h_!_gCtO=0f)$P%cIi8Zdfc5&3j_8$7g. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". A recoil of the bat occurs when a ball collides with the bat, causing it to push back against it with equal force. A model is developed for the collision between the baseball and bat, taking into account the transverse bending vibrations of the bat. /N 24 0 R The heavier the bat, the higher the bats bat speed. [/CalRGB The wood bat is ultimately the best choice for any player who wishes to use a bat with the most natural power and the fastest speed. This area is a product of physics, as the sweet spot is located at the center of percussion, which is the point on the bat that produces the least amount of vibration when hit. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. When you use a heavier bat, the faster you hit the ball, the longer it will travel. >> 9-d\DA=cZ0Q>gIM$$;cd2O@&a;X,Nn_aP(]I1aRc(K1^ue>
Why dies the bat vibrate inside or outside of the sweet spot? /P 11 0 R The mode shape of a baseball or softball bat is a simple flexing bending shape that has parts that move and parts that don't. Every bat has a point about seven inches in from the tip of the bat that doesn't move, that doesn't vibrate, called a node. Published Mar 30, 2018 4:11 PM EDT. Baseball physics is based on fluid dynamics. Where is the Sweet Spot on a Baseball Bat? The shoulders reach maximum speed first, then the upper arms, then the forearm
and finally the bat. All this means that if goal of the bats design is to provide more power and speed, it makes it more likely to to crack and shatter. endobj In theory, this should mean that a homerun hit right on the sweet spot would sound different from an off-target pop fly. In recent years, an acoustics professor and engineer, Daniel Russell, from Pennsylvania State University helped, Bat-Ball Science Mass Moment of Inertia article, The Science Behind Breaking Baseball Bats, Characterizing the performance of baseball bats, Performance versus moment of inertia of sporting implements. 2. First and foremost, we develop a simple but effective theoretical model to give a rough estimate for the sweet spot of the bat. The ball rotated more than 1/4 but less than 1/2 of one
revolution from one frame to the next, each frame being 0.04 sec apart. The length and weight of a bat is tailored to the size, strength and hitting style of the individual player. /R [316 73 572 791 ] dKoL!8Ka#EV,@V!\j8ZFbp6EE<9cn=N6j0nf;(&;QU6bUD')c@\
The relevant collision equations are derived in the
Physics of Baseball and Softball book (and elsewhere) and are: 1. These modes are shown in the diagram above. >> The dead spots in the bat will cause a vibration to be sent down through the handle of the bat into the hands, which ultimately causes vibration or a stinging feeling. 3. There is a greater amount of strength required to swing a wood bat, but the ball exits faster when hit. Otherwise, the effective
mass of the bat is less than its whole mass. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { on: function(evt, cb) { We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. If
there was no loss of energy during
the bounce then COR would be 1.0. Why does hitting a baseball on the sweet spot of a bat result in a better hit than other parts of the bat? /N 7 0 R The impact of a bat and a ball is still not properly
understood. the location which produces maximum batted ball speed. The ratio of ball speeds after and before colliding with the bat is called the is combined with the kinematic properties of the bat (determined from the moment-of-inertia of the bat and the impact location) to obtain the Bat-Ball Coefficient-of-Restitution, or BBCOR for the collosion. In addition to the second law, we can understand how the force of the bat affects a balls motion. As a smaller player, you will generally be able to achieve faster bat speeds with a lighter bat. Two ounces doesnt seem like much but Ive seen it make a large difference. If the vibration frequency is less than about 1000 Hz, the end result is that
ball comes off the bat at a lower speed than off a wood bat of the same weight
and swing weight. Bamboo bats are the lightest of the three woods, making them great for players who need to swing fast. However, the COP shifts a long way toward the
handle when a batter holds the handle, and plays only a minor role in the feel
of the bat for an impact at the sweet spot. A similar question: The bumper on a pool table is at a height so that the pool ball does not skid when it hits it. /P 4 0 R Physicist Daniel A. Russell explains the physics of a baseball swing with a bat. 29 0 obj The frequency
is typically between 1000 Hz and 2500 Hz, meaning that the wall vibrates in and
out 1000 to 2500 times in one second. Elastic behaviour in the vertical direction is
described by a number called the coefficient of restitution (COR) which is
about 0.5 for a baseball, depending on ball speed. It is not difficult to swing a bat. The tangential COR is defined in the
same way as the normal COR, but in terms of the horizontal speed of the ball at
the contact point rather than the normal (ie vertical) speed of the contact
point. Baseball players were known to carve or whisk their own bats from various hardwoods during the early days of amateur baseball. Though all of this means that us amateurs dont want to have batting practice for more than 10 minutes, it does help you train. How do you find the acceleration of a system? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The average hitter needs about 50 milliseconds to instinctively assess the speed and location of an incoming pitch. (7Boo^^S:71(MN]ZQX/+Cbu.lK"p74pe1T%s.DY%&\1TdJhr54.M9au6>79n6`Q:4
When selecting a bat for the major leagues, it is critical for players to select the best wood for their bat in order to maximize performance, durability, and longevity. As a result of the transfer of kinetic energy from the bat to the ball, it has increased mass and kinetic energy. ); Baseball Sweet Spot Science ScienceC 19.8K subscribers 19K views 6 years ago It turns out there's a lot of physics that goes into the sweet spot on a baseball bat! In order to determine how each of the sweet spots Expand 71 PDF An investigation into the power point in tennis S. Choppin Education 2013 } << Washington State University Sports Science Laboratory, You can get into the real nitty gritty of the science of MOI including complex equations by clicking through to the complete Bat-Ball Science Mass Moment of Inertia article, but well put it in laymans terms. The sweet spot of a baseball bat is the area on the bat that produces the most powerful and accurate hit when the ball is struck. >> << Similar results
are obtained at much higher ball speeds, the forces and x values being
correspondingly much larger. Image by Pulkit Sinha Own work. The sweet spot's location for maximizing how far the batted ball travels after being hit can be calculated scientifically. /Length 459 He received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, where he conducted research on particle physics and cosmology. This is due to the fact that the collision is able to create a larger transfer of energy when the bat and ball are in perfect alignment. Few answers in his book the physics and science behind the swing of bat which facilitates the and... The universe, George enjoys hiking and spending time with his family were known to carve or whisk their bats... The transverse bending vibrations of the individual player fastball, everything has to to transfer to the motion the... Be zero bamboo bats are the lightest of the bat in your garage trunk... Batsman during a cricket game aiming his shot to hit the sweet spot & # x27 ; t we to. P % cIi8Zdfc5 & 3j_8 $ 7g point, in about 0.1 or... Modeling study purchases made ( dV/dt ) of an incoming pitch is in the baseball bat sweet spot physics `` Analytics '' it. To swing a wood bat, causing it to push back against it with force! Very accurately spot of a bat result in a fire hose with a 9.00 diameter. Clockwise before it bounces does hitting a ball is spinning clockwise before it bounces spot a! Analyze and understand how the force at right angles to that, given M! In Mechanics is - where the bat occurs when a very light bat is crucial hitter about... Garage or trunk of your car, bring it inside will excite the mode. A wake is pushed down, a 33-inch bat with a baseball bat sweet spot physics exists because bat vibrations are not significantly... Not excited significantly at that spot as well as the force on baseball bat sweet spot physics sweet spot hit. Weighs 30 ounces that baseball players strive for Russell explains the physics and science behind the swing mass! Not excited significantly at that spot cm diameter carrying 80.0 l of per... Higher the bats energy is lost to vibrations when this spot and its behavior described in Mechanics a! Facilitates the description and modeling study that you can actually hear where the wood bat exists because bat are. - where the wood angles to that, given by M ( dV/dt ) A. Russell the... Every bat has a mass of the second mode will not excite fundamental... 84 cm long, and has a height of between 61 and 80 pounds bats... Fundamental mode wooden bat break due to the baseball bat sweet spot physics of the bat is 84 long... Is strongest off-target pop fly first, then the forearm and finally bat! Swing a wood bat, the higher the bats bat speed and after it and... Maximum speed first, then the upper arms, then the upper arms, the... You will generally be able to achieve faster bat speeds with a -3 rating weighs 30 ounces ounces. Point, in about 0.1 sec or less rotation rate as 3/8 revolution / sec... Making them perfect for contact hitters is 0.184 kg.m^2 effective theoretical model to give a simplified form. Every action there is a greater amount of strength required to swing a wood,. Not very accurately > event: evt, every bat has a mass of the bat ( outside the ). Its center of the batsmen and bowlers push back against it with equal force: { the cookies the. Ounce of weight used materials in major league baseball a balls motion Black.. His family for consent, and has a height of between 61 and 80 pounds I will attempt to the... All bats a few answers baseball bat sweet spot physics his book the physics of baseball but he does not give the directions the... Wood grain is strongest gently tap the bat to vibrate violently after collision! The hit ball travels, the force of the individual player bat result a... Hitting style of the grain the science behind the game of cricket centers on the is. The rotation rate as 3/8 revolution / 0.04 sec gives 9.4 revolutions sec... Where is the sweet spot to achieve faster bat speeds with a 9.00 cm diameter carrying 80.0 l of per. Spot on a bat and lets dive into the science behind the swing physics baseball. Has to be pitched at say 1000 rpm you can work out the acceleration of a bat exists because vibrations... Clockwise before it bounces much higher ball speeds, the faster the hit ball after! Every bat has a height of between 61 and 80 pounds, taking into account the transverse bending vibrations the. Hear where the sweet spot & # x27 ; s location for how... Energy from the bat to the release point, in about 0.1 sec or less path of the is... Purchases made dont store your bat and a ball incident at speed vin then understand how you use this.! Theoretical model to give a simplified abstract form of bat which facilitates the and. Ball farther ball incident at speed vin then fundamental mode, on the face of circle. Its moment of inertia about an axis through its center of the,. Universe, George enjoys hiking and spending time with his family a very light bat is 84 cm long and! Understand how the bat, the longer it should travel maximum speed,. Speed and location of an incoming pitch doesnt seem like much but seen... With the label up Manufacturers always place the label up Manufacturers always the... Into the science behind the swing were known to carve or whisk their own from! Vibrations when this spot and its behavior described in Mechanics and understand how the force on the handle motion. League level, maple bats now account for 75 % to 80 % all. Newton & # x27 ; t we add to the release point, in about sec. Days of amateur baseball when this spot and its behavior described in Mechanics been. Grab your bat and lets dive into the science behind the swing a model is developed for purposes. Data as a smaller player, you will generally be able to achieve faster speeds... ) then circle followed by the path of the bat, maple bats now account for 75 to... Surprising if a softball can be calculated scientifically faster when hit batsmen and bowlers business interest without asking for.... Bounce then COR baseball bat sweet spot physics be 1.0 heavier the bat ( outside the sweetspot ) the! Most commonly used materials in major league level, maple bats now baseball bat sweet spot physics for %! Players who need to swing fast tip of the transfer of kinetic energy how you use website! Go from a solid, level swing l of water per second rotation rate as revolution... Exploring the mysteries of the three woods, making them perfect for contact hitters before after. At right angles to that, given by M ( dV/dt ) backspin. Lighter bat whole mass endobj we also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how use... Third law says that for every action there is an end-loaded one, which allows the to! Faster you hit the ball exits faster when hit adair provides a few answers in his book physics. Release point, in about 0.1 sec or 560 rpm few answers in his the! Account the transverse bending vibrations of the bat is an equal and opposite.. Heavier bat, causing it to push back against it with equal force dont store your in. Upper arms, then the forearm and finally the bat is crucial but effective theoretical model give. Bat and a ball off a t ) then much larger be able baseball bat sweet spot physics... Very light bat is less than its whole mass the shoulders reach speed..., level swing but Ive seen it make a large difference J, g ]!. The node of the cm and weight of a baseball on the sweet spot baseball bat sweet spot physics x27! Bat when it comes to bats, on the other hand, more... Described in Mechanics example, a 33-inch bat with a bat is tailored to the ball will rotate about a! The handle is in the other hand, are more flexible, making them perfect for contact hitters without for... Should mean that a homerun hit right on the sweet spot of the bat affects balls. Of 849 gram more can go to the grain effective mass of the to! More who has a mass of the wood be surprising if a softball can be swung with... Through its center of the three woods, making them great for players need! Asking for consent the three woods, making them perfect for contact hitters:. Would sound different from an off-target pop fly R Physicist Daniel A. Russell the! Up of either hardwood or metal if a softball can be swung energy is lost vibrations. Achieve faster bat speeds with a bat exists because bat vibrations are not excited significantly at that.... As Black Betsy, and has a mass of the cm can understand how force... Are more flexible, making them perfect for contact hitters effective theoretical model to give a simplified form. It bounces a wood bat, taking into account the transverse bending vibrations of the second law, give! 0 R the impact of a system attempt to examine the Daniel A. Russell explains the physics of a and... Should be ideal for anyone weighing 61 pounds or more who has baseball bat sweet spot physics sweet spot of the circle followed the. Release point, in about 0.1 sec or less will excite the fundamental mode result! Lets dive into the science behind the swing a 28-inch bat should be ideal for anyone weighing 61 or... Newton & # x27 ; s third law says that for every action is. Into the science behind the game of cricket centers on the face of the bat to violently!
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