The fastest recorded pitch in major-league baseball, thrown by Nolan Ryan in 1974, was clocked at 100.8 mi/h. If a pitch were thrown horizontally with this velocity, how far would the ball fall vertically by the time it reached home plate, 60.0 ft away?

Answer 1

u = 162.3 km/h = 45.083 m/s
x = xo + u*t + 1/2 at^2
45.083*t + 0 = 18.3
t = 0.406 s
y = yo + u*t + 1/2 at^2
y + 0 - 4.9t^2 = 0
y = 4.9(0.406)^2
y = .808 m

Answer 2

Easier explained,
Velocity = (162,300/ 3600s in 1 hr) = 45.08m/sec.
Time to travel 18.3m = (d/v), = 18.3/45.08) = .406 secs.
Height of fall in .406s. = 1/2 (t^2 x g), = .808m.

Answer 3

the question was in English units ... not metric ... 2.64 ft