How does warmer/cooler temperatures affect the game?

[Yikes]

I've been reading some snipets here and there, hope you guys can help fill me in on these knowledge gap:

1) Generally, do pitchers prefer warmer or cooler temperature to pitch in? I heard cold temperature make the ball tougher to grip for hurlers

2) Do balls travel farther in hotter climates? (e.g. hot air rises and carries the ball further)


I have a feeling Hootie has some answers to this in one of his spread sheets

[Amazinz]

Not really sure about #1. Concerning #2, yes hotter air is less dense (ignoring air pressure and humidity variables) and the ball travels further because there's less aerodynamic drag.

[Yikes]

Not really sure about #1. Concerning #2, yes hotter air is less dense (ignoring air pressure and humidity variables) and the ball travels further because there's less aerodynamic drag.

but then concerning #2:
how do we explain the lighter/coor air where the Rockies play and how smaller air resistence allows the ball to travel farther?

[Liberty30]

excellent questions.

I am very curious myself.



Inquiring minds want to know!

[Amazinz]

Air temperature at Coors field has the same effect on a baseball as anywhere. Above I said ignoring air pressure and humidity variables which can play a big part in air density. That's the case at Coors. Coors is about a mile above sea level which means (had to look this up ) 15% less air density than at sea level. The low air pressure results in less drag.

[slomo007]

I'm no physicist, but the higher the elevation, the less gravity drag that exists. The further away you are from the core of the earth, gravity's effect is least. That's why there is no gravity in space, and why Colorado is known for it's long distances in sports.

[Pedantic]

I'm no physicist, but the higher the elevation, the less gravity drag that exists. The further away you are from the core of the earth, gravity's effect is least. That's why there is no gravity in space, and why Colorado is known for it's long distances in sports.

Lol. The force of gravity at one mile above sea level would be ((Radius of the Earth [in miles])^2/(Radius of the Earth [in miles] + 1 mile)^2)*(Gravitational force at sea level). Obviously, negligible effect.

[Andy1234]

I'm no physicist, but the higher the elevation, the less gravity drag that exists. The further away you are from the core of the earth, gravity's effect is least. That's why there is no gravity in space, and why Colorado is known for it's long distances in sports.

Lol. The force of gravity at one mile above sea level would be ((Radius of the Earth [in miles])^2/(Radius of the Earth [in miles] + 1 mile)^2)*(Gravitational force at sea level). Obviously, negligible effect.

He said he wasn't a physicist

[slomo007]

Yep, one instance where common sense doesn't pay off.

[Green Monstah]

I thought balls went farther in Coors because the air is less dense at higher elevations. Less air = less air resistance = balls travel farther in flight.