In hitting a ball of mass, m, with a baseball bat, the bat exerts a force, F on the ball for a short time, delta t.

Question

The ball had an initial velocity, v1, just before it was hit and a final velocity, v2, right after it was hit. What was the impulse of the force acting on the ball, if all the motion takes place in a straight line and delta t = 0.1 s, v1 = 19 m/s, v2 = -21 m/s, and m = 430g?

What was the force exerted by the bat on the ball? 

Answer 1

The impulse is the change in momentum.

I = p₂ - p₁ = mv₂ - mv₁ = m(v₂ - v₁) = (0.430 kg)[(-21 - 19) m/s = ? kg m/s

I = FΔt ⇒

F = I / Δt

Divide the result for impulse in kg m/s by Δt in seconds and get F in newtons. You should be able to finish from here.