Stopping a baseball requires work because work is defined as the product of force and displacement. In order to stop a baseball, a force must be applied in the opposite direction of the ball's motion, resulting in a displacement. Therefore, work is being done on the baseball to bring it to a stop.
There are two main forces involved in stopping a baseball: the force of the ball's initial motion and the force applied in the opposite direction to stop it. The initial motion of the ball is due to the force of the pitcher's throw, while the force to stop the ball is typically applied by the catcher's glove or the ground.
The force needed to stop a baseball can be calculated using Newton's second law of motion, which states that force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration. In this case, the mass of the baseball is known, and the acceleration can be determined by the change in velocity as the ball is brought to a stop.
Stopping a baseball may seem like a simple task, but it actually involves a complex combination of forces, velocities, and calculations. The pitcher must accurately throw the ball at a certain speed, the catcher must apply the right amount of force to stop it, and the ball itself may have spin or other factors that affect its motion.
Work is defined as the product of force and displacement, and stopping a baseball involves both of these elements. The force applied to the ball in the opposite direction of its motion results in a displacement, or change in position, of the ball. This means that work is being done on the ball to bring it to a stop, and the amount of work is equal to the force applied multiplied by the distance the ball travels while being stopped.