Projectile Motion: Baseball Trajectory Problem

Problem Statement

Consider a projectile launched at a height h feet above the ground and at an angle θ with the horizontal. When the initial velocity is v₀ feet per second, the path of the projectile is modeled by the parametric equations:

x = (v₀ cos θ)t     and     y = h + (v₀ sin θ)t - 16t²

The center field fence in a ballpark is 10 feet high and 400 feet from home plate. The ball is hit 3 feet above the ground. It leaves the bat at an angle of θ degrees with the horizontal at a speed of 100 miles per hour.

(a) Write a set of parametric equations for the path of the ball.

(b) Find the minimum angle at which the ball must leave the bat in order for the hit to be a home run.

Baseball Trajectory Analysis

15°
Fence: Calculating...
Not a home run
Distance: 0 ft
10 ft 400 ft 15°