Chapter 7, Problem 14A

To determine

The reason that the enormous number of inter-atomic forces inside a baseball accelerate the baseball.

Answer to Problem 14A

It is because the net force inside the baseball accounts to zero.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

According to Newton’s second law of motion, if the net force $F$ is applied to the mass $m$ , then the acceleration produced is given by,

  $a=\frac{F}{m}$

It can be seen from above formula that the acceleration produced is directly produced to the net force on the object.

Now, though there are enormous number of inter-atomic forces inside a baseball, the net force inside the baseball is zero. Hence, these enormous inter-atomic forces is not able to accelerate the baseball.

Conclusion:

Since, the net inter-atomic force inside the baseball is zero, hence it does not accelerate the baseball.