Steven is trying out for the position of pitcher on the baseball team. He can throw the baseball fast! The coach has clocked some of his pitches at 85 mph. Some of Steven's friends decided to play a joke on him and replaced one of the baseballs with one that they tampered with. Instead of a mass of 145 grams, the boys added a lead weight so the mass is now 200 grams. Steven winds up and throws.

Question

All of the statements describe the possible results of this scenario except one. Which statement is an inaccurate explanation?

(1 point)
Responses

If Steven’s throwing force is constant and the ball’s mass increases, the rate of acceleration will be less.
If Steven’s throwing force is constant and the ball’s mass increases, the rate of acceleration will be less.

Since force equals mass times acceleration, Steven’s throwing force must increase to throw the ball 85 mph.
Since force equals mass times acceleration, Steven’s throwing force must increase to throw the ball 85 mph.

The difference in the mass is not significant and will not affect the force needed to throw the ball 85 mph.
The difference in the mass is not significant and will not affect the force needed to throw the ball 85 mph.

Steven must throw the new ball with more force in order for it to achieve the same speed as previous throws.

Answer 1

The statement that is inaccurate is:

The difference in the mass is not significant and will not affect the force needed to throw the ball 85 mph.

This statement is inaccurate because an increase in the mass of the baseball from 145 grams to 200 grams is significant. According to Newton's second law of motion (force = mass × acceleration), if the mass increases, the force required to accelerate the ball to the same speed (85 mph) must also increase. Thus, this statement overlooks the impact of the increased mass on the required force.