Baseball's Black Hole - Terminal Velocity
 

Consider the terminal velocity of a baseball. It has been mathematically proven to occur at 73.8mph. A knuckleball or curve ball released at 80mph may decelerate to 73.8mph over the plate. Are these "strange" effects sharply noticed at any other velocity?

Wind tunnel lab experiments confirm similar baseball terminal velocities between 92 and 94mph. A 4-seam, slider, cut or sinking fastball is released at 100mph and decelerates to 92 mph at the plate. A faster spinning 2-seam fastball doesn't decelerate or move as much. Are any of these "strange" effects comparable at other velocities?

The ball physically "hops" twice, at 73.8mph and 92-94mph in the air we breath. There is direct evidence from wind tunnel experiments available. There is indirect evidence available from MLB hitters and umpires. Consider it a decoupling in the air waves, similar to a sound barrier, around the baseball while passing through its terminal velocity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trajectory_of_a_projectile
http://www.100.nist.gov/curverelease.htm

Who else hears Rod Serling's voice?

It makes me want to sit back and take a breathe.

Too much physics for a Monday morning. The article you posted has no flow, it doesn't explain concepts, and it is just incomprehensible. Why can scientists not write anything in english?

Anyone who doesn't think a fastball can rise hasn't been calling a high enough caliber of baseball. The reasoning that because gravity pulls something towards the ground, therefore a fastball cannot rise, leaves out too many important facts.

Oh cripes, now SA has another uniformed follower.

Mate, over the last 10 years this site (and others) have proven time-and-time-again that a baseball thrown overhand CANNOT rise.

And trust me (unless your an ex-major leage umpire that worked in season games) I have called a higher caliber of baseball than you my friend.

I hope no one else wastes their time answering yet somone who lives in the "mythical land" of the rising fastball.

~Sigh~

Would someone, please, PLEASE, lock this thread.

Mythbusters busted the "rising baseball" myth in their baseball special a while back.

~Sigh~
 

I saw the Myth Busters piece. I also read and watched at least 10 other definitive studies that show gravity does work.

I guess we'll always have people that choose to live in "Myth World"!

I especially like those that try to shout us down by saying we don't work "high enough quality" of baseball to have seen this.

Sad, just sad in a way.

The "High Strike" Zone
 

I was strictly talking terminal velocity. The baseball does "silly things" at or near terminal velocity.

Pretty good "science-fiction" analogy posted by member tornado, both classy and intellectual.

Do you have any idea what "terminal velocity" means?

Please stop posting this crap.

Judging from his post, no, he does not.

ter·mi·nal ve·loc·i·ty
• n. Physics the constant speed that a freely falling object eventually reaches when the resistance of the medium through which it is falling prevents further acceleration.

Terminal velocity is the speed that a train is traveling when it goes right through a train terminal without stopping.

I can't believe more people don't know that.

There's a simple explanation for this part. As for myself, I will trust Tim (and gravity).

On the other hand, he linked a Wikipedia article, so he must be right...;)

Once again who gives a rats anus-- and who gives a flying fornication. Next time we all need to band together and make sure there are no responses to a post like this, matter of fact, nothing personal (as this is directed at the post and not the person posting this), but I will not even open it to read. Let's follow Tim_C's lead. This type post is counterproductive on this site. It belongs on a physics post with Earl Weaver who I'm sure would be interested and love to hear all about it before he comes out of retirement or passes on to managerial heaven.

I can seem to find the link to add someone to my ignore list. Has that feature been removed?

Actually there was a time a couple of years ago when this was a fun discussion during the off season. But for some reason the discussion turned to the dark side. And when put into a context that the myth applies to umpiring baseball it's not an all together useless exercise.

Experts have time and time again proposed that the myth of a rising fastball has been perpetuated by real physics. By that I mean that what appears to some to be a rise in the pitch is actually a decline in it's trajectory that's less than the observer had anticipated. Tie that into proper tracking of pitches by the proper use of the eyes, and it does become of value to this forum.



Tim.

Did you see that pitch break?
 

I was afraid this thread had spun out of control.
Thanks for bringing the topic back down to earth.

No, experts proposed that that myth was perpetuated by the optical illusion you discussed, not real phyiscs.

The true facts have beed discussed ad nauseum and and continued interest is found primarily in those who enjoy whipping deceased equines.

Maybe you didn't work enough AAA games to see a rising fastball. One or two games doesn't cut it if you don't have an overhand power pitcher who can throw mid 90's. Or maybe you aren't tracking the ball properly.

i've seen a rising fastball. it ended up above the break on the net.

I would guess that there are members of this forum now that weren't members during the time this was so heavily debated. If the topic bores you because you've heard it all before, perhaps it's time to afford others an opportunity to play around with the subject matter. You ain't the only one on the playground.


Tim.

On the top bar of the page, click "User CP." You will see your profile. In the column on the left side of the screen, click "Edit Ignore List." Follow the instructions on that screen.

Thanks for clarifying. That makes sense to me.

No, but I am, apparently, one of the vast majority with a brain.

I will agree with the moderator. The OP is crap.

Are the insults necessary?

Exactly how many games does one have to work to see something that doesn't happen?

_____________

Okay, BigUmp. Now there's two posters functioning with the same limitations. I guess bringing up this myth for the gazillionth time was worthwhile after all.

Go to "User CP" at the top, then "Edit Ignore List"

Tons of links to disprove the myth
 

I saw it too. http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=A1VClnk3l-k

Forgive the Wikipedia links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBus...ising_Fastball :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastball#Rising_fastball :

http://www.popularmechanics.com/outd...81.html?page=2

http://www.sie.arizona.edu/sysengr/s...ngFastball.ppt

I'm glad you're able to see that.............


Tim.