BBTF.org/m/physics : XKCD: Relativistic Baseball, or What would happen if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90% the speed of light?

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Relativistic Baseball : What would happen if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90% the speed of light?

(what-if.xkcd.com)

posted on April 13, 2013 at 11:36 AM by Avoid running at all times.-S. Paige to aroldis chapman, nolan ryan, physics, sidd finch | 17 comment(s)

The answer turns out to be “a lot of things”, and they all happen very quickly, and it doesn’t end well for the batter (or the pitcher). I sat down with some physics books, a Nolan Ryan action figure, and a bunch of videotapes of nuclear tests and tried to sort it all out. What follows is my best guess at a nanosecond-by-nanosecond portrait:

Reader Comments and Retorts

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1. Best Regards, L.M. posted on July 11, 2012 at 06:55 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Again?

2. Dale H. posted on July 11, 2012 at 06:56 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Wow, the relativity people have it right. Different frames of reference do experience things at different times.

3. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' posted on July 11, 2012 at 08:56 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Dear god XKCD is a national treasure. Those little stick figure dudes are just so friggin' lovable in a math/physics/compsci/humor context.

EDIT: The final sentence of this post, citing to the MLB Official Rules, literally made me laugh out loud so hard that the people downstairs pounded on the ceiling.

4. phredbird

posted on July 11, 2012 at 09:16 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

this thread is a riot, and i would like to nominate each comment for a primey in each of their respective parallel ... wait a minute.

5. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) posted on July 11, 2012 at 09:25 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

the God pitch

6. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP posted on July 11, 2012 at 09:30 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

If the same article is going to be on Hot Topics twice on the same day, this is a pretty good choice.

7. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:12 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Woah, so THIS is the Picard maneuver.

8. Monty posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:19 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Then you're going to the wrong websites.

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/m/physics

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Relativistic Baseball : What would happen if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90% the speed of light?

Reader Comments and Retorts

Physics Think Factory