A student is the pitcher on a baseball team. They pitch the ball toward home plate. It begins in a straight line and then curves toward the ground. What forces are acting on the ball?

Question

a
magnetism and inertia
b
friction and gravity
c
friction and electricity
d
inertia and nuclear

Answer 1

The correct answer is b: friction and gravity.

As the baseball is pitched, gravity pulls it downward, causing it to curve toward the ground. Friction, primarily from the air (air resistance), also affects the ball's motion as it travels through the atmosphere. Magnetism and electricity are not significant forces acting on a baseball in this context, and inertia is not listed as a separate force but rather a property of matter that describes an object's resistance to changes in its state of motion.