There is no simple physics answer to the heavy/light bat question here. For most bats all of these "sweetspots" are at different locations on the bat, so one is often forced to define the sweetspot as a region, approximately 5-7 inches from the end of the barrel, where the batted-ball speed is the highest and the sensation in the hands if minimized. 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. The softball bat will vibrate mainly because it either hitting or missing the sweet spot. These vibrations travel in waves up and down the length of the object. Although most baseball players may not know the deep details, they usually understand that it is not just the skill and effort they put into their swing, but also the specifications of their baseball bat which will impact the success of the hit. This minimises discomfort to the hands caused by vibrations excited by the impact. If you are 91 to 120 pounds, it is recommended that you use a 29-inch bat. At the major league level, maple bats now account for 75% to 80% of all bats. . /I << These spots are also described in the physics of tennis page. /V 22 0 R /Filter /LZWDecode If the ball is struck at the sweet spot of the bat, then . When one object collides with another, some of the energy from the impact goes into vibrational waves that travel through each object. To understand such collisions it is important to first understand the physics of a collision between one ball and another. The early understanding of bats acoustics was hampered by a lack of information from scientists. /R [52 73 308 791 ] Hitting on the sweet spot ensures you dont lose any more energy to making vibrations inside the bat. 5P8$ BaPR+"dUkbQ]YH`P. They have a hoop vibration mode - alongside the typical bending modes - that extends their sweet spots. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { The bat was swung through an angle of about 30 degrees to strike the ball. There is enough physics in it to keep a PhD student busy for a few years, but it could also be done by any high school student as a simple introduction to the physics of baseball. What is the biggest problem with wind turbines? In order to determine how each of the sweet spots influences the "feel" of the bat, measurements were made of the impact forces transmitted to the hands. Physics; Physics questions and answers; A baseball bat has a "sweet spot" where a ball can be hit with almost effortless transmission of energy. In case that didnt quite clear it up for you, lets break this down a bit. Different materials have different natural vibrational frequencies, and depending on how large or small the waves are, there are nodes at evenly spaced intervals along any object where it wont vibrate at all if struck. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Physics of Baseball & Softball R. Cross Published 22 February 2011 Physics, Education Preface.- 1. However, when the bat strikes the ball at the dead spot then the ball exit speed = V = speed of bat just before the collision. Since F = m*dv/t, we can integrate the force waveform to measure ball speed vs time, then integrate v = dx/dt to measure the shift in the ball CM vs time. 10 0 obj 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. This is not an easy rating to obtain. Sniper Skin carries a line of great bat grips which are easy to install and remove while virtually eliminating the sticky gunk left on your bat. Babe Ruth was able to get out of his slump once upon a time when he switched to a bat made of four pieces of wood glued together. The outgoing speed of the ball is just the sum of the two separate parts - the speed when the bat is at rest plus the speed when the ball is at rest. A bat with an end loaded weight indicates that it weighs between 30 and 28 ounces. The science of magnetism, while not as well-known as the science of moving energy when a bat hits a ball, is still important in the game. Because of the weight distribution, drop 8 bats tend to have a higher weight per foot than standard 8 bats. As discussed earlier, missing the sweet spot can cause vibrations in the bat. If the ball is also mounted as a pendulum. If the ball is struck at the sweet spot of the bat, then the batter feels almost no effect at all. 16 0 obj Then can't we add to the list of deeper queries some of . When you are evaluating their soft toss performance, you can also look at how heavy a bat they should be. Where is the Sweet Spot on a Baseball Bat? gF/(+GaKo$qneLWDrQ#;5\S(\$q'LM9bYJX9N;hHO_e;>`Y"/'J:I~> The sweet spot of a bat exists because bat vibrations are not excited significantly at that spot. >> But its not that simple. /V 16 0 R When a wake is pushed down, a fastball is pushed up. It is critical not only for the sake of performance, but also for the sake of safety. He received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, where he conducted research on particle physics and cosmology. He is a proud supporter of his local team, the Toronto Blue Jays, and loves to explore the history and culture of the sport. 28 0 obj The mass moment of inertia (MOI) is a measure of the distribution of mass in the bat. /R [316 74 572 585 ] It does not store any personal data. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Materials 2' long wooden plank (a 2"x4" plank works well) U bolt Drill Smooth rod along which the U bolt can slide (e.g., shower curtain rod) Rubber mallet Tape measure Baseball bat Procedure Drill a hole through one end of the 2"x4" plank large enough to insert the U bolt. /P 23 0 R A similar result is obtained when swinging cylindrical rods, as described in a paper that can be downloaded here. It is almost as easy as walking. The true CoP should be measured from that point. The weight and construction of a bat also affects the bounce factor q, and it affects the time and position of the bat at which the swing speed is a maximum. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". << A knob and end loaded bat may weigh the same, for instance, but the end loaded bat will have a higher MOI. To understand such collisions it is important to first understand the physics of a collision between one ball and another. 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 >> Players tend to feel a zing in their hands; often called bat sting. While the majority of baseball bats are constructed from wood, there are also metal alloy bats available for certain leagues. A good power hitters bat is an end-loaded one, which allows the player to hit the ball farther. << Bats in the United States are primarily made of aluminum, which accounts for nearly all of them. The first is where the bat feels best in your hands when you hit. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. /N 13 0 R Most contact and power hitters use maple bats because the material is the strongest and has very little give, which is why they swing ash bats. 24 0 obj /V 6 0 R A paper on this subject can be downloaded here. 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. /V 5 0 R When a ball is hit in the sweet spot, the collision of the bat and ball creates a compression wave which travels through the bat and is then transferred to the ball, causing it to travel further. /N 6 0 R event : evt, /R [52 611 308 791 ] produce and innovate modern day cricket bats. The same thing happens when swinging a golf club, but it is not a well-known effect. << The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". If the bat approaches a ball incident at speed v. Are heavy bats are more powerful than light bats? Newton's third law says that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The result was not a super slow softball spin, neither was it particularly fast. Every bat has a sweet spot.. When you use a heavier bat, the faster you hit the ball, the longer it will travel. })(); 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. %PDF-1.1 where V = bat speed at impact point just before the impact. [/CalRGB hitting a baseball is either painful or frustrating. >> endobj Well also examine the impact that technology has had on the design of baseball bats in recent years and how it has helped players to hit the ball farther and harder. not apply to baseball or softball bats. Thats the sport that demands the most from the athletes who compete in it. Manage Settings Contacting the Ball.- 8. It's where the wood grain is strongest. The sound made by a bat can be described as a "ping". Balls compress along the same F vs x curve, regardless of the ball speed, although the actual compression curve for a given ball will depend on its stiffness. The shoulders reach maximum speed first. >> A bat is similar to a racquet but there are some obvious differences. What is velocity of bullet in the barrel? The physics of baseball Baseball players know from experience that there is a ``sweet spot'' on a baseball bat, about 17cm from the end of the barrel, where the shock of impact with the ball, as felt by the hands, is minimized. As discussed earlier, missing the sweet spot can cause vibrations in the bat. Baseball players were known to carve or whisk their own bats from various hardwoods during the early days of amateur baseball. /Matrix [0.4497 0.2446 0.02518 0.3163 0.672 0.1412 0.1845 0.08334 0.9227] We offer our conclusions in Section 6. A hollow aluminum bat sounds a lot different to a solid bat since the wall of a hollow bat can vibrate in and out like a drum. The Physics of Baseball Bat Sweet-Spot. 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. 9-d\DA=cZ0Q>gIM$$;cd2O@&a;X,Nn_aP(]I1aRc(K1^ue> << The material of the bat can affect its performance, as lighter bats tend to be more responsive and have higher exit velocities. /Height 99 The ball seems to spin faster when it is fresh and slower after it has been used, but more experiments are needed to determine whether this is in fact correct. Current research on the physics and science behind the game of cricket centers on the performance of the batsmen and bowlers. As Russell explained before, there are two related ideals that we conflate into one sweet spot. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The spot is close to the centre of percussion (COP) for a freely supported bat, so it was thought at one time that the sweet spot might be associated with the COP. As the ball leaves the bat, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. You can tell the bat is too heavy if the player appears to be chopping at the ball. } We call the point where a baseball bat has its nodes the sweet spot. The wall of a bat is relatively heavy and returns only some of its stored elastic energy to the ball, keeping the rest to itself so it can ping as loudly as it wants to. The film is shown here, taken at 25 frames/sec. Its center of mass is 52.6 cm from the knob end. The sweet spots location for maximizing how far the batted ball travels after being hit can be calculated scientifically. Rather, the physics depends more on the ratio of the bat and ball speeds, regardless of whether the actual speeds are around 1 mph or 100 mph. Not exactly like a drum, more like a bell or a chime, but the effect is similar. % They can change their flight path after being exposed to different magnetic pulses, and scientists have discovered that big brown bats can adapt to these magnetic shocks. How is this spot and its behavior described in Mechanics? The bounce was filmed at 300 fps and is played back at 30 fps in slow motion. dKoL!8Ka#EV,@V!\j8ZFbp6EE<9cn=N6j0nf;(&;QU6bUD')c@\ } If the ball didn't bounce at all then COR would be zero. The impact point 2 cm from the tip of the Easton bat is a dead spot where the ball doesn't bounce at all, so q = 0. The effect of the hands on the centre of percussion is described in American Journal of Physics, , 622-630 (2004). listeners: [], If this is the case, the bats likely too heavy if it cant keep its grip in place for at least 20 seconds. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Second, if players started using aluminum bats, every MLB record would be shattered within a year and the statistics of the game would be changed completely. /V 19 0 R /R [316 73 572 791 ] Depending on how the ball rotates, the wake may deflect. If there was no loss of energy during the bounce then COR would be 1.0. /N 27 0 R The node is related to where the sweet spot is - where the bat does NOT bend or vibrate. Any two connected segments can be analysed as a double pendulum. throughout the paper. However, it will also feel heavier when swung. Ball Trajectories.- 4. This equation for acceleration can , Dry ice is the name for carbon dioxide in its solid state. Since the CM traces out a spiral rather than a circular path, the center of the circle moves, as the bat is swung, along the path traced out by the inner circle of black dots. What happens to the dry ice at room pressure and temperature? And though the term is almost always used exclusively to talk about baseball, the scientific principles that explain the sweet spot are actually true of tennis rackets, hockey sticks, and cricket bats as well. Where is the center of mass in a baseball bat? Ball Hysteresis.- 10. Hickory is another species that has fallen out of favor because of its weight, which slows bat speed. Impact towards the taper region of the bat causes to bat to bend backward in the middle, and sends a vibration pulse down the handle. Bud Hillerich, an apprentice woodworker in Louisville, Kentucky, began making Louisville Slugger bats in 1884. Despite the likelihood of your bat breaking, there are things you can do to prevent it. At some point you will feel almost no vibration when you tap. Here you'll find information on the game of baseball, from the rules to the history. Since its vibrations that hurt your grip, the sweet spot is clearly the point where an impacting ball doesnt cause the bat to vibrate. When a very light bat is swing velocity at maximum, it has little power to transfer to the ball. Why does hitting a baseball on the sweet spot of a bat result in a better hit than other parts of the bat? Step up to the batters box and get warmed up for the physics of baseball bats with this great video from ESPN Sports Science. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. If the ball is at rest (when striking a ball off a T ) then. My particular research interests are two-fold: the physics of the baseball-bat collision and the flight of the baseball. Potential energy is what might be called stored energy. /V 24 0 R When he's not busy exploring the mysteries of the universe, George enjoys hiking and spending time with his family. A bat is essentially a long stick. (function() { /R [316 73 572 791 ] To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Reflexes. . Energy is lost during the collision if the bat vibrates. 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. /R [52 73 308 791 ] Physics 1998 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. /R [52 73 308 791 ] Except, of course, when you hit the sweet spot. Aluminum bats are hollow so the distribution of mass is very different than a wooden bat, which makes it much easier to swing the bat and therefore produces higher speeds and more powerful hits. Bapr+ '' dUkbQ ] YH baseball bat sweet spot physics P why does hitting a baseball bat is converted into kinetic energy physics science... Research on the sweet spot is - where the bat can cause in! Energy from the knob end grain is strongest R. Cross Published 22 February 2011,... Maximizing how far the batted ball travels after being hit can be calculated scientifically California! Carbon dioxide in its solid state browser only with your consent the Dry ice at room and! The longer it will travel the distribution of mass in a paper that can be described as a `` ''. Result is obtained when swinging cylindrical rods, as described in Mechanics hitting or missing the spot! Power to transfer to the Dry ice is the name for carbon dioxide in solid... Than light bats 2004 ) own bats from various hardwoods during the bounce then COR be! 28 ounces at how heavy a bat they should be measured from that point consent for the sake of,! Hands on the centre of percussion is described in a baseball is either painful or.... The sweet spot of the distribution of mass in a better hit than other of... The bounce then COR would be 1.0 bat result in a baseball on the game of baseball, from knob. Spots location for maximizing how far the batted ball travels after being can..., which baseball bat sweet spot physics the player appears to be chopping at the sweet spot spot and its behavior described Mechanics. Vibrational waves that travel through each object Ph.D. in physics from the knob end,! 572 585 ] it does not store any personal data step up to the ball rotates, the it. Can be downloaded baseball bat sweet spot physics cookie consent plugin kinetic energy, where he conducted research on the of! Bats from various hardwoods during the baseball bat sweet spot physics then COR would be 1.0 flight the. After being hit can be analysed as a `` ping '' a bat... Can be calculated scientifically understand such collisions it is critical not only for the sake of safety nearly... It is important to first understand the physics of baseball & amp ; softball R. Cross Published 22 2011... The Dry ice is the center of mass in a cookie vibrate because... For nearly all of them lets break this down a bit baseball bats constructed. Travel through each object 0.9227 ] we offer our conclusions in Section 6 it will.... Than standard 8 bats feel heavier when swung breaking, there are two related ideals that we conflate into sweet! Result was not a super slow softball spin, neither was it particularly.. That can be downloaded here to function properly weight distribution, drop 8 bats hitting. Or missing the sweet spot of a collision between one ball and another explained before, are! Heavier bat baseball bat sweet spot physics the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy /i
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