Posted by: Mark H. () on Wed Oct 24 11:17:52 2001

Jack,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > > I was in my physics class the other day and we were studying motion and air resistance. I was reading a post and this guy said it was simple physics that a ball hit at a 45 degree angle would travel the farthest. This is true if there is no wind or the air is not a factor. But the best angle to hit the ball with air as a factor is 39 degrees.
> > > > > Hey Nick u...
> > > > > According to Robert Adair the optimum angle is 35 degrees.
> > > > > Jeff Hitman
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Adair is mistaken, 45 degrees is the optimal angle.
> > >
> > > Well...Adair wrote a book about the physics of baseball including the basis of his conclusions. And, he has the academic credentials. Maybe you are right and he is wrong, but I think you are going to have to come up with a little more than an unsupported statement if you want to convince anyone.
> > >
> > > Mark H.
> >
> > www.scri.fsu.edu/~jac/Java/baseball.html
> > Set the angle for 45 and press hit, then try again at 35 degrees and tell me which goes the farthest.
>
>
>
> 35 degrees goes farther when I try it. Tried two different speeds too.
>
> Mark H.

After further experimentation, 32 degrees seems to be optimum according to this program. I notice this program is based on Adair's work.

Mark H.