PULLMAN, Wash.
Reporting in the journal, Applied Sciences, Washington State University and Delft University of Technology researchers describe the new technique, which entails firing the baseballs through a line of sensors and measuring the change in speed as they travel along a trajectory.
While baseball is a popular sport, the aerodynamic properties of baseballs have not been fully understood.
To assure a uniform and consistent playing experience, Major League Baseball only uses one manufacturer, Rawlings Sporting Goods, which follows strict protocols in making the balls.
When the Major League Baseball organization commissioned a panel to study the unprecedented and dramatic change, researchers found that a tiny decrease in the ball’s aerodynamic drag of just 3% was responsible for the dramatic change in home runs.
But during those investigations, the researchers determined that wind tunnel measurement techniques couldn’t adequately capture the tiny changes in drag that might make a huge difference in home runs.
The techniques could be used for other applications in a number of sports, from cricket to soccer, Smith said.
The talk, “Land as Sacred Text: How Climate Change Will Impact Indigenous Spirituality,” will take place at 3 p.m.
Kimberly Budil, director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, will discuss national security challenges related to nuclear deterrence, bio‑resilience, climate, and energy beginning at 3:10 p.m.