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NAME_________________________________ CLASS____________________ DATE____________ 

Curveball Vs. Fastball

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Explanation:

In CurveBall, set the display to Ballpark, the Location to Cleveland, choose a Right Handed pitcher and set the Speed to 85 mph and the Spin, Spot , and release Angle to 0.0.

Step 1. These initial conditions show a fastball. What happens to the fastball with 0.00 release point and a 0 release angle?

Step 2.

Repeat Step 1 but this time make the ball curve by making it Spin 500 rpm. Will the umpire call this a ball or a strike? Why?

Step 3.

Looking at the baseball panel from the above steps, determine the "center of the plate." How did you do this?

Step 4.

Complete the chart below using CurveBall and a small ruler. Measure the distance from point A (the center point) to the point where the ball passes the plate. Above the plate should be positive distances, and below the plate should be negative distances. Record the distances for the given release spot. Repeat this for a Left Hander and record your results.

Release Point (x)	Curveball - Left hander (y)	Fastball - Left hander (y)	Curveball - Right hander (y)	Fastball - Right hander (y)
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00

Step 5.

Using four different colored pens, graph the information on the graph provided. In each of the graphs the Release Point will be x.

Graph #1--Use color # 1 and Curveball -Left hander as y.

Graph #2--Use color #2 and Fastball - Left hander as y.

Graph #3--Use color #3 and Curveball - Right hander as y.

Graph #4--Use color #4 and Fastball - Right hander as y.

Conclusions:

1. a) How do the positions of a fastball thrown by a left hander and a right hander compare?

    

   b) How do the graphs show you this? 

    

    

2. a) How do the positions of a curveball thrown by a left hander and a right hander compare?

    

   b) How do the graphs show you this?

    

    

3. Consider yourself as a hitter.

   a) Are you right handed or left handed?

    

   b) Which pitcher would have the more difficult fastball for you to hit? Why?

    

   c) Which pitcher would have the more difficult curveball for you to hit? Why?