The fastest recorded pitch in Major League Baseball was thrown by Nolan Ryan in 1974. If this pitch were thrown horizontally, the ball would fall 0.809 m (2.65 ft) by the time it reached home plate, 18.3 m (60 ft) away.

Question

The fastest recorded pitch in Major League Baseball was thrown by Nolan Ryan in 1974. If this pitch were thrown horizontally, the ball would fall 0.809 m (2.65 ft) by the time it reached home plate, 18.3 m (60 ft) away.
The acceleration of gravity is 9.81 m/s2 . How fast was Ryan’s pitch? Answer in units of m/s

Mac · Accepted Answer

45.03756158

bobpursley · Answer

distance fell= 1/2 g t^2 .809=4.9 t^2 solve for t, the time it was in the air. howfast=distance/time= 18.3m/time