Script

Greg: Good morning it’s Mike and Greg in the morning and this is the news of sports. We're broadcasting live from that big football stadium. Last night was a big night in the world of sports. So much so that Mike had to sleep in again after such an intense evening. Mike: (runs in) Yes sir, it was fun to see the parabolic path of that game winning shot of the Pistons- Celtic game. But enough of that, now we are graced to have one of the finest young basketball players in the country in our studio. Please welcome O.J. Mayo (pan to carton of orange juice and container of mayonnaise). Greg: It appears that Mr. Mayo does not have much to say. Mike: Hey did you hear the Adam Pacman Jones is not allowed to huddle on the field with the Dallas Cowboys. Greg: No I didn’t hear about it. Mike: It is a parole violation for him to associate with known felons. Greg: Well, right now America’s past time is in full swing, but to get a fuller appreciation of the game, one must understand the physics and calculus involved in it. Mike: Calculus is crucial in determining how fast some of the greatest pitchers in the game can throw. Greg: Take for example, Randy Johnson who at his size has a great advantage of downward motion. Mike: We can calculate the velocity of the ball at any point in its 60ft. 6in. path. Greg: That seems to be very useful. Mike: The position equation is x=1/2at2+vot+xo. It is 60 feet 6 inches from the pitcher's mound to home plate. How long does it take for a pitch to travel from the time it leaves the pitcher's hand to home plate if the pitcher throws a fastball 90 miles per hour and it has an acceleration of -.25 miles/hr.2 due to wind resistance? Greg: Well Mike, that’s not really calculus, but you would just set the equation, -.125t2+90t-60.5, equal to 0 and use the graphing capabilities of your graphing calculator. When I did that I got .631 seconds for the ball to reach home plate. If you want to do some calculus, find the velocity of the ball when it reaches home plate. Mike: You would take the derivative of the equation, which is -.25t+90. When you plug in the time of .631 seconds, you get a final velocity of 89.9mph. Greg: That is awfully fast! Mike: I could hit him. Greg: Don't you mean he could hit you? Mike: NO! That would hurt. Greg: Well I don't think you have to worry. Mike: Well, that does it for this episode of Mike and Greg in the morning; tune in next time when we explore the area under the curve of Shaquille O’Neal’s free throws. Greg: It certainly can’t be much.