Home Run! Science Projects With Baseball and Softball

by Bonnet, Robert L.; Keen, Dan

• ISBN13: 9780766033658
• ISBN10: 0766033651
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-06-01
• Publisher: Enslow Pub Inc

Summary

How do environmental factors affect a ball? How does the weight of a bat affect a hit? Does the position of your hands on the bat have an effect on the distance you can hit the ball?

Author Biography

Robert L. Bonnet has a masters degree in environmental education, and has been teaching science for over thirty years. He has organized and judged local and regional science fairs. Dan Keen has a degree in electronic technology. He is the editor and publisher of a country newspaper in southern New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 7
Environmental Factors	p. 11
How Does Wind Affect a Ball?	p. 13
Does Rain Affect a Ball's Bounce?	p. 17
How Does a Wet Ball Field Affect the Movement of a Ground Ball?	p. 21
Transfer of Energy	p. 27
How Does the Weight of a Bat Affect a Hit?	p. 29
How Does the Hardness of a Ball Affect the Distance a Batter Can Hit It?	p. 33
Does the Distance Between Hands Placed on a Bat Affect the Distance of a Hit?	p. 36
How Does Striking a Ball Off-Center Differ From Hitting It Dead-Center?	p. 38
Statistics	p. 43
Can a Small Sample Accurately Represent the Larger Group?	p. 45
Batting Average and the True Value of a Hitter	p. 49
Friction and Pressure	p. 53
How Do Shoes Affect a Runner's Speed?	p. 55
Does a Spinning Ball Travel in a Straight or Curved Path?	p. 58
Can a Batting Glove Help Your Hitting?	p. 63
Bat Use	p. 67
Which Bat Weight Is Best for You?	p. 69
Does Swinging Early or Late Determine the Direction of a Hit?	p. 71
Does "Choking Up" on the Bat Increase Bat Control?	p. 75
Creative Baseball and Softball	p. 79
Where Within the Strike Zone Is Your Strongest Swing?	p. 81
What Is the Fastest Way to Get the Ball From Deep Center Field to Home Plate?	p. 85
Can You Improve Your Pitching to the Extreme Edges of the Strike Zone?	p. 89
Can You Make Up Your Own Game That Will Improve Your Baseball or Softball Skills?	p. 92
Glossary	p. 97
Further Reading	p. 99
Internet Addresses	p. 100
Index	p. 101
About the Authors	p. 104
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