This book describes the physics of baseball and softball, assuming
that the reader has a background in both physics and mathematics at
the high school level. The physics is explained in a conversational
style, and illustrated with experimental results obtained both in
the laboratory and in the field. Simple equations are also used in
order to model the experimental results and to test whether the
explanations are actually valid. The subject matter provides an
excellent opportunity to explain physics in an interesting manner,
given the universal popularity of baseball and softball as pastimes.
There is also the interaction between a bat and ball, which is
a classic problem in physics involving large forces, short time
intervals, momentum, and energy transfer, vibration, rotation, and
the different physical properties of the wood (or aluminum) of the
bat, and the ball. The flight of the ball through the air is another
fascinating example of physics in action, involving the effects of
gravity, air resistance and ball spin on the ball trajectory. For
those readers who already know quite a bit of physics and who are
comfortable with mathematical equations, additional material is
provided in the appendices. The book also describes many simple
projects for readers who wish to perform their own experiments,
whether it is for fun, for a school project, or both.

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