Back to 10.4 Rotational Kinetic Energy: Work and Energy Revisited

10.4 Exercise 22

Avg difficulty 2.5

In softball, the pitcher throws with the arm fully extended (straight at the elbow). In a fast pitch the ball leaves the hand with a speed of 139 km/h. (a) Find the rotational kinetic energy of the pitcher’s arm and ball together given that the arm's moment of inertia is 0.720 kg⋅m2\text{0}.\text{720 kg} \cdot \text{m}^{2} and the ball leaves the hand at a distance of 0.600 m from the pivot at the shoulder. (b) What force did the muscles exert to cause the arm to rotate if their effective perpendicular lever arm is 4.00 cm and the ball is 0.156 kg?

OpenStax College Physics 2e, 10.4 Rotational Kinetic Energy: Work and Energy Revisited, exercise 22

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Adapted from College Physics © 2022 Rice University. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Sources: College Physics 2e, College Physics for AP® Courses 2e. Imported at revision f98d7a7.