How do radar guns measure how fast a pitch is?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How do radar guns measure how fast a pitch is?

The Big Idea

Fans love hearing how fast a pitch was! A radar gun measures it. How does it work?

Radio Waves

Step one: Radio Waves. A radar gun sends invisible radio waves toward the ball. The waves bounce off and come back slightly changed.

Measuring

Step two: Measuring. The gun's electronics measure that change to figure out the speed. It all happens in an instant.

Pointing Right

Step three: Pointing Right. For an accurate reading, the gun must point nearly straight along the ball's path. Police use similar radar guns to check the speed of cars.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Sends waves. Waves bounce. Ball changes them. Speed appears.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! The fastest pitch ever measured by radar was about 105.8 miles per hour, in 2010. Waves bounce back. Point straight along. Police use radar too.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Mark a distance of 10 steps. Roll a ball along it. Time how long it takes. Divide steps by seconds. That's its speed in steps per second!

Outro

A radar gun sends invisible radio waves at a ball, and they bounce back slightly changed. The gun measures that change to find the speed, as long as it points nearly straight along the ball's path. Science is amazing! The world is full of surprises. Keep asking big questions, and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!