. We know from experience that the harder we throw a ball (apply more force), the faster it is moving (greater initial velocity resulting from acceleration). If you throw a 1 kg softball as hard as you can, and it is traveling at \( 20 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s} \) when it leaves your hand, how fast do you think a 5 kg softball would travel with the same force?

When you throw a ball, the impact of the mass on its acceleration is governed by Newton's second law of motion, which states that \( F = ma \) (force equals mass times acceleration). If you apply the same force to both a 1 kg and a 5 kg ball, the acceleration of the heavier ball will be less due to its greater mass. So, while the 1 kg ball may reach \( 20 \, \mathrm{m/s} \), the 5 kg ball will travel slower. In fact, the relationship can be summarized: if the mass increases and the force remains the same, the acceleration (and thus the final velocity) decreases. The exact speed would depend on the specifics of how much force you're able to exert. In a wild game of catch, think about it like tossing a feather versus a bowling ball. Sure, you can throw them both, but how far or fast they go will differ immensely. So, if you were to heave that 5 kg ball with the same ferocity, it might only soar away at a fraction of the speed—quite the workout for your arm!