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

1 answer

The statement that is an inaccurate explanation is:

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

This is inaccurate because an increase in mass (from 145 grams to 200 grams) does affect the force required to achieve the same acceleration (or speed). According to Newton's second law (F = ma), if the mass increases, more force is needed to achieve the same acceleration (or speed), assuming the throwing force remains constant. Therefore, this statement fails to recognize the impact of mass on the force required for the same speed.