The Physics of Baseball: Uncovering the Secrets Behind the World Series

As the World Series returns to Toronto for Game 6, pitcher Kevin Gausman will take to the mound, armed with a fascinating combination of physical principles that make his splitter pitch so difficult to hit. The science of baseball is just as compelling as the action on the field, with projectile motion, gravity, and spin all playing critical roles in determining the trajectory of a baseball. By understanding these fundamental concepts, the Toronto Blue Jays may gain a valuable edge in their bid for the championship.

Key Takeaways:

• The splitter pitch, with its average speed of 85 mph, takes 490 milliseconds to reach the batter, compared to 430 milliseconds for the fastball, allowing for a 60 millisecond difference that can make or break a strike.
• The drop of a baseball pitch is influenced by gravity, which causes a 92 cm drop for a fastball and a 115 cm drop for a splitter, but the Magnus force, created by the rotation of the ball, opposes this effect and reduces the drop by up to 75%.
• The Magnus force is responsible for the lift generated by the backspin of the fastball, reducing the drop by up to 30 cm, and its absence in the splitter results in a much greater drop.
• Gausman's splitter pitch has a unique grip and backspin that reduces the Magnus force, allowing it to drop more sharply than the fastball, making it harder for the batter to anticipate its trajectory.
• A batter has approximately 150 milliseconds to judge the trajectory of a pitch and decide whether to swing, less than a quarter of a second, and must account for the drop, speed, and spin of the ball.
• The science of baseball, including projectile motion, gravity, and spin, is just as fascinating as the game itself and offers a unique perspective on the sport.

Statistics:

• A baseball stays in the air for approximately 4.5 to 5 seconds on average.
• The average speed of a fastball is 95 mph, with the splitter averaging 85 mph.
• The distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate is 18.4 meters.
• The Magnus force, created by the rotation of the ball, can reduce the drop by up to 75%.
• The typical swing of a major league batter takes approximately 150 milliseconds.
• It takes approximately 100 milliseconds for a blink of the human eye.

Sources:

• The Conversation -- Canada -- By Patrick Clancy, Assistant Professor, Physics & Astronomy, McMaster University
• https://theconversation.com/how-the-physics-of-baseball-could-help-kevin-gausman-and-the-blue-jays-win-the-world-series-268732