How Did They Break the Record for Longest Home Run?

TL;DR

The team used an engineered apparatus to swing a bat at extreme speeds and successfully hit a baseball 696 feet, breaking what they believe to be the longest home run record. This exceeded the previous major league record of around 575-580 feet, showcasing the potential of engineering in sports.

Transcript

• [Destin] Oh dear me. - [Jeremy] I'll let you know! (machine whirring) - Ready? Oh my goodness. (bat snaps) (laughs) (Smarter Every Day Intro music) The major league baseball home run distance record is around 575 to 580 something feet, depending on where you get your data. Today on "Smarter Every Day", we're gonna try to beat that with engineerin... Read More

Key Insights

• 🍳 Engineering can be used to attempt to break sports records, as demonstrated in this video.
• 💩 Launch angle is an important factor in hitting home runs in baseball.
• ✊ Three-phase power can provide more torque and power to motors compared to single-phase power.
• 🖐️ Bats can break under extreme conditions and stresses, and their design plays a significant role in their performance.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the team set up the high-speed apparatus to swing the bat?

The team used a three-phase generator connected to a large motor and a pulley system to spin the bat at high velocities.

Q: What is the launch angle discussion in baseball?

The launch angle discussion refers to the study of the exact angle at which a batter needs to swing the bat to achieve the optimal ball position and exit velocity for hitting home runs.

Q: Why did the team face challenges in getting full power from the generator?

The team realized that they were not getting full power because they were using single-phase power instead of three-phase power. They rectified the issue by adjusting the settings.

Q: How did the team measure the distance of their hits?

The team used drones and GPS to measure the distance of their hits, which they determined to be 696 feet, potentially breaking the longest home run record.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video documents the process of setting up a high-speed apparatus to swing a baseball bat at incredible velocities.

• The team attempts to hit home runs at distances exceeding the current record of around 575-580 feet.

• They break multiple bats during their attempts but ultimately succeed in hitting a baseball 696 feet, potentially breaking the longest home run in history.