Using NewsHour Extra Worksheets

Overview: NewsHour Extra worksheets can help students follow along and identify key points in NewsHour science broadcast pieces.

Warm Up: Introduce the topic of the broadcast piece and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Hand out the worksheet and have students answer the questions as they watch the NewsHour segment.

Need a DVD of the science segment?: Write to science@newshour.org.

Story: Scientists Explore Physics of Baseball Feats, 7/12/07
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/july-dec07/baseball_07-12.html

Worksheet Questions: (click here for printout)

1. How long does it take a 90-mile-per-hour fastball to cross home plate?

It take about 400 milliseconds.

2. At what angle does a batter want the bat to hit the baseball? Why?

The batter wants the bat to hit the baseball at a 45 degree angle. That angle gives the ball both sideways (horizontal) speed and vertical speed. The horizontal speed sends the ball toward the fence, but the vertical speed is what allows it to stay in the air.

3. What does San Francisco Giants player Barry Zito use "3-D, high-speed, infrared, eight-camera motion analysis" for?

He uses it to analyze the body angles and timing of his pitches, and make small adjustments to improve his performance and reduce injuries.

4. What kind of motion does physicist Linda Shore compare pitching to?

She compares it to a whip motion.

5. At what point during a pitch is the baseball moving fastest? Why?

The ball is moving fastest immediately after it leaves the pitcher's hand, because as it moves forward, friction (air resistance) slows it down.

For more NewsHour Science Reports, go to www.pbs.org/newshour/science.

For more science lesson plans and worksheets, go to www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/science.