Researcher ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8043-6194
Graduation Year
2021
Date of Submission
5-2021
Document Type
Campus Only Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Physics
Reader 1
Scot Gould
Reader 2
Janet Sheung
Terms of Use & License Information
Abstract
In this paper I will attempt to uncover the effect of lift on a baseball in hitting home-runs. I first analyze the optimal launch (hitting) conditions without and with air resistance in the absence of ball spin. Then I discuss what the lift force is and how to calculate it on a baseball. Then I rerun the analysis of the optimal launch angles with and without air resistance but include the spin of the ball and the associated lift forces. Finally I analyze the mechanics of the ball hitting the bat to try to determine conditions that lead to lift, how they can be optimized, and how critical lift is.
Recommended Citation
Mehlman, Jacob, "Influence of Lift In Hitting Home Runs" (2021). CMC Senior Theses. 2612.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/2612
This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.
