A baseball catcher puts on an exhibition by catching a 0.150-kg ball dropped from a helicopter at a height of 100 m above the catcher.If the catcher "gives" with the ball for a distance of 0.750 m while catching it,what average force is exerted on the mitt by the ball? (g = 9.80 m/s²)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The potential energy of the ball at 100 m is converted to kinetic energy just before the catch. Using energy conservation, the velocity just before the catch is found. Then, using work-energy principle, the average force exerted is calculated considering the distance over which the force acts.

A Baseball Catcher Puts on an Exhibition by Catching a 0.150-Kg