Welcome to brain Stuff from how stuff marks dot com where smart Happens. Hi, I'm Marshall Brain with today's question in baseball, how does a picture throw a curve ball? A successful major league batter it gets a hit only about thirty percent of the time he comes to bat. But one of the ways pitchers lowered these chances even further is by throwing a curveball. A curveball is a pitch that appears to be moving straight toward the plate, but that is actually moving down and to the right
or left by several inches. Obviously, a pitch that curves is going to be harder to hit than a fastball that's moving straight. There are two basic factors involved in creating a curveball. First is proper grip, and second is air resistance. Any baseball pitch begins with how the picture grips the ball. To throw a curveball, a picture hold the baseball between his thumb and his index and middle fingers,
with the middle finger resting on the baseball seam. When the picture comes through his motion to throw the ball, he snaps his wrists downward as he releases the ball, which gives the ball top spin. If the picture throws properly, the back of his hand will be facing the batter. At the end of the motion, the ball will break down and away from a right handed batter. If thrown by a right handed pitcher, The spinning action created when the pitcher releases the ball is the secret behind the
curve ball. This spinning causes air to flow differently over the top of the ball than it does under the ball. The top of the ball is spinning directly into the air and the bottom of the ball is spinning with the air flow. The air under the ball is flowing faster than the air on top of the ball, creating less pressure, which forces the ball to move down or curve.
This imbalance of forces called the Agnus effect, named after physicist Gustav Magnus, who discovered in eighteen fifty two that is spinning object traveling through liquid is forced to move sideways. Adding to the air pressure exerted on the ball. Are the hundred and eight red stitches that hold the cover on the ball. Because they're raised, the stitches increase the amount of friction created as the air passes around the ball and places more air pressure on top of the ball.
A well thrown curveball can move as much as seventeen inches either way. If you've ever seen a batter jump out of the way of a baseball that ends up crossing over the plate, you've seen a great curveball. Be sure to check out our new video podcast, Stuff from the Future. Join how Stuff Work staff as we explore the most promising and perplexing possibilities of tomorrow the house Stuff Works. I Find app has a ride down at it Today on iTunes.