Chapter 7, Problem 14RQ

With no air drag, what happens to the horizontal component of velocity for the batted baseball?

To determine

The variation in the horizontal component of the velocity when air drag is neglected.

Answer to Problem 14RQ

The horizontal component of the velocity when air drag is neglected will remain constant throughout the journey.

Explanation of Solution

The ball will have two components of initial velocity when it is projected using a bat at a certain angle. Components of the velocity will be a vertical and horizontal component, in vertical and horizontal directions, respectively. The vertical velocity of the ball will change as it gains that height, because of the effect of the gravitational pull of the Earth. When the air drag is neglected, the horizontal component of the ball will remain constant in its entire journey, because no other horizontal force will act on the ball. This means that the ball will cover the same horizontal distance in equal time intervals. Thus, there is no change in the horizontal component of the velocity of the ball.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the horizontal component of the velocity, when air drag is neglected, will remain constant throughout the journey.