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In baseball, a base runner can usually get to a base quicker by running than by sliding. Explain why this is so. Why slide then?

In baseball, a base runner can usually get to a base quicker by running than by sliding. Explain why this is so. Why slide then?

Grade:upto college level

1 Answers

Deepak Patra
askIITians Faculty 471 Points
9 years ago
A base runner can get quicker to the base by running than by sliding because every time the runner’s foot comes in contact with the ground, he loses some portion of his momentum. And if he continuous to slide, a large amount of energy is wasted in working against the friction resulting from the contact.
Therefore the best way for the runner to reach the base in minimum time is to run instead of sliding.
Upon reaching the base, the runner has to stop and come at rest. To account for such a large change in momentum in minimum time, the runner cannot rely on running for the entire path. Therefore by sliding, he uses the frictional forces to stop himself and the sliding begins when he is about to reach the base.

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