Grand Valley State University

The physics of baseball, Robert Kemp Adair

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

The physics of baseball

48003183

Robert Kemp Adair

A "fascinating and irresistible" ("New York Times Book Review") look at the science behind America's favorite pastime, complete with charts and graphs, baseball lore, and anecdotes about famous players

Models and their limitations -- Flight of the baseball -- Baseball--air resistance -- Spin and the magnus coefficient -- Distance of flight of a batted ball -- Swing of the bat: Model of batting -- Batter reaction time -- Pitching: Pitcher's task -- Curveball -- Knuckleball -- Hop of the fastball -- Pitching with an illegally modified ball -- Pitching in the wind and on high -- Energetics of a thrown ball -- Pitching tactics: High and tight, low and away -- Left-handed and right-handed players -- Batting the ball: Bat-ball collision -- Spin of the batted ball -- Effects on the distance balls are hit -- How far can a ball be hit? -- Number of home runs -- Properties of bats: Optimum bat weight -- Hitting the ball imperfectly -- Aberrant bats: Aluminum bats -- Aberrant bats: Corked bats -- Running, fielding, and throwing: Running -- Judging fly balls -- Fielding ground balls--long and short hops -- Throwing in the infield and outfield -- Index