Question

A pitcher throws a softball toward home plate. When the ball hits the catcher’s mitt, its horizontal velocity is 32 meters/second. The softball’s velocity goes to 0 meters/second in 0.8 seconds when caught. If the softball has a mass of 0.2 kilograms, what’s the force of the impact? Use F = ma, where . The force of the impact is newtons.

Answer 1

Answer
8 Newtons

Explanation
The first step is to calculate the acceleration (a) of the ball.
 
a = (v-u)/t
where a⇒acceleration
           v ⇒final velocity = 0 m/s
           u ⇒initial velocity =32 m/s

∴a = (0 - 32)/0.8
     = -40m/s² 
The acceleration is negative indication the softball was decelerating. 

Now force of impact;

F = ma
where m⇒ mass of the softball in kilogram

F = 0.2×-40
   = -8

But force can not be negative,
So, impact force =8 Newtons

Answer 2

Answer: 8 newtons

Hope this helps! :D <3