{"id":14675,"date":"2025-04-07T06:50:52","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T06:50:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topat10.com\/?p=14675"},"modified":"2025-04-07T06:50:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T06:50:52","slug":"torpedo-bats-and-the-physics-of-the-sweet-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topat10.com\/?p=14675","title":{"rendered":"Torpedo Bats and the Physics of the Sweet Spot"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

If the ball hits the stick and bounces back, what will happen to the stick? If you said the stick will recoil to the right, you\u2019re correct. We can think of this as a collision. When two objects collide, they exert forces on each other. And per Newton, the forces are equal and opposite, keeping the total momentum of the ball-bat system constant. We define momentum as the product of an object’s mass and velocity.<\/p>\n

Since the ball bounces back, the only way for momentum to be conserved is for the stick to recoil. (I know, my setup for this thought experiment would make for a pretty lame spectator sport, but stay with me\u2014it\u2019ll help us understand what happens at the sweet spot).<\/p>\n

Off-Center Collision<\/h2>\n

OK, go fetch the stick and bring it back to the starting position. The ball is again launched toward the stick. However, this time, it’s aimed at the end instead of the middle. Like this:<\/p>\n

\n