ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel SmarterEveryDay Trying to Catch a 1,000 MPH Baseball – Smarter Every Day 247
Welcome to “Smarter Every Day”! In this exciting video, we’re exploring the amazing world of supersonic speeds with a special baseball cannon. This isn’t just any cannon; it’s designed to shoot a baseball faster than the speed of sound! With the help of some friends, we built and tested what we believe is the world’s first supersonic baseball cannon.
First, let’s talk about what it means for something to travel faster than the speed of sound. When an object moves this fast, it creates a shockwave known as a Mach cone. We used a high-speed camera to capture this phenomenon, and it was incredible to see the baseball zooming through the air with such force.
When the baseball hit a steel backdrop, we were able to see the immense power it carried. This is due to kinetic energy, which is the energy an object has because of its motion. The faster something moves, the more kinetic energy it has. Watching the slow-motion footage of the baseball hitting the steel was truly eye-opening.
Now, we wanted to see what happens when a supersonic baseball hits different objects. First, we fired the baseball at a boxing target to see if it could penetrate it. Our prediction was that the target would get damaged, and we were right—the baseball went right through!
Next, we tested whether a thick catcher’s mitt could absorb the impact of the supersonic baseball. We placed the glove in front of the target and fired away. The glove managed to absorb some of the energy but couldn’t completely stop the baseball.
Curious to see how many gloves it would take to stop the baseball, we set up an I-beam to hold multiple gloves. We made some guesses about how many gloves the baseball would penetrate. After firing, we discovered that the baseball went through all of them!
Our experiments showed just how challenging it is to catch a supersonic baseball with a glove. It’s a fun and fascinating challenge that combines science and sports in a unique way.
Before we wrap up, we want to thank our sponsor, Guardian Bikes. They make bikes that are safe and easy to use, especially for kids. Their bikes come mostly assembled and have special technology to prevent accidents. If you’re interested, check out GuardianBikes.com/smarter for more information.
Thanks for joining us on this adventure! If you enjoyed the video, please consider subscribing to our channel for more fun and educational content.
Imagine you’re a scientist trying to visualize supersonic speed. Create a simple simulation using a balloon and a pin. Inflate the balloon and release it to see how fast it moves. Discuss with your classmates how this relates to the concept of supersonic speed and the Mach cone.
Conduct an experiment to understand kinetic energy. Use a small ball and a ramp to see how the height of the ramp affects the speed and energy of the ball. Record your observations and discuss how this relates to the kinetic energy of the supersonic baseball.
Work in groups to design your own version of a supersonic baseball cannon using household materials. Present your design to the class, explaining how it would work and what materials you would use to achieve supersonic speeds.
Create an art project that represents a shockwave or Mach cone. Use materials like paper, paint, or clay to visualize the concept. Share your artwork with the class and explain how it represents the shockwave created by supersonic speeds.
Make predictions about how many layers of paper or cardboard a regular baseball can penetrate when thrown with force. Test your predictions by throwing the baseball and counting the layers it penetrates. Discuss how this experiment relates to the supersonic baseball tests in the video.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript, removing any informal language, laughter indications, and extraneous details while maintaining the core content:
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Welcome back to “Smarter Every Day.” In this video, we are going to demonstrate the capabilities of a baseball cannon that can shoot a baseball faster than the speed of sound. With the help of my friends, we designed, built, and tested the world’s first supersonic baseball cannon. We used a special high-speed camera setup to capture schlieren imagery of a baseball with a Mach cone in front of it, confirming that the baseball was indeed traveling faster than the speed of sound.
We were amazed by the slow-motion footage of the ball hitting a steel backdrop, showcasing the immense kinetic energy involved. Now, it’s time to put the supersonic baseball cannon to use. In our previous video, we focused on building and verifying the cannon, but we encountered some mechanical issues during testing.
Next, we will explore the effects of a supersonic baseball on a human body and a baseball glove. We will first fire a baseball at a boxing target to see if it penetrates. The goal is to understand how to dissipate the energy from a fast-moving object like a supersonic baseball.
We will begin with a shot at the target. The first prediction is that the target will sustain damage but may not be completely destroyed. After firing, we observed that the baseball did indeed penetrate the target.
Next, we will place a glove in front of the target to see if it can absorb the impact. The glove is a thick catcher’s mitt, and we want to determine if it can withstand the force of the baseball. After firing, we found that the glove did not completely stop the ball but did absorb some of the energy.
We then set up an I-beam to hold multiple gloves in a consistent manner for further testing. Our aim is to see how many gloves a supersonic baseball can pass through. We made predictions about the number of gloves the ball would penetrate, and after firing, we confirmed that the baseball went through all of them.
This leads us to the challenge of finding a way to catch a supersonic baseball with a glove. We also discussed the current bicycle shortage and introduced our sponsor, Guardian Bikes, which offers bikes designed for safety and ease of use for children. Their bikes come mostly assembled and feature technology to prevent flipping over the handlebars.
Thank you for watching this video. Please consider subscribing if you enjoyed it, and remember to check out GuardianBikes.com/smarter for more information.
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This version maintains the essence of the original content while removing informalities and distractions.
Supersonic – Faster than the speed of sound. – The jet flew at supersonic speeds, breaking the sound barrier.
Speed – The rate at which an object moves. – The car increased its speed as it went downhill.
Baseball – A sport involving a bat and ball, or the ball used in this sport. – In physics class, we calculated the speed of a baseball after it was hit by the bat.
Energy – The ability to do work or cause change. – The roller coaster uses potential energy at the top of the hill and converts it to kinetic energy as it descends.
Motion – The change in position of an object over time. – The motion of the pendulum was used to demonstrate the laws of physics.
Shockwave – A sharp change of pressure in a narrow region traveling through a medium, often caused by an explosion or supersonic object. – The explosion created a shockwave that could be felt miles away.
Cannon – A large, heavy piece of artillery, typically mounted on wheels, used in warfare. – The physics teacher used a small model cannon to demonstrate projectile motion.
Impact – The action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another. – The impact of the meteorite created a large crater on the surface of the planet.
Challenge – A task or problem that tests a person’s abilities. – Designing a bridge that can withstand strong winds was a challenge for the engineering students.
Gloves – Coverings for the hands, often used for protection. – The scientist wore gloves to protect her hands while handling the chemicals in the lab.
