Maths Inside Baseball

Δt

Δv

If the acceleration is constant throughout a movement of an object, it
indicates that the velocity is also changing at the same rate. Zero velocity
signifies there is no change in velocity throughout a movement of an
object.

If the direction of velocity and acceleration are the same, the speed
increases. If the direction of velocity and acceleration are different, the
speed decreases. Let's think of a pop-up fly in baseball. A batted ball will
initially have large velocity in the upward direction (positive) but will
experience a constant acceleration in the downward direction. At the top
of its flight the velocity becomes zero. And then the ball begins to fall
and the velocity becomes larger (or more negative) along with
gravitational force until it is caught. Velocity constantly changes.

Consider a graph y=xwhen y is distance travelled, and x is time passed.
If I wanted to figure out the slope of this line, I would choose two points
on the line, then calculate the change in x and y. This would give us the
slope value, since we have defined a slope as change in y over change in x,
or rise over run.

slope= Δx

Δy

In this case, the slope indicates the velocity. For any points on the line, it
will give the same slope because the line has a constant rate of change in x
and y.