Summer has settled in. Along with summer come thoughts of baseball, golf, softball, and other outdoor sports to many folks.
You might have heard how a certain type of weather can impact the flight of a ball.....such as a fly ball in baseball/ softball or a drive in golf. But what's the truth?
Speaking to temperature, the warmer the air is, the further a ball will fly. The is due to a warmer airmass being less dense than a colder one, providing less resistance to a ball in flight.
Another factor is humidity. Same principle applies here.... the more moisture content there is in the air, the less dense the airmass is. So, the ball will fly further in a muggier airmass as opposed to a dry one.
Another factor is air pressure. The lower the pressure, the less dense the air is. As you progress higher in elevation, the air will become significantly less dense. That's why the ball travels so well in a place such as Denver. Same principle applies to the mountains of North Carolina.
Obviously, hitting a ball into a head wind will result in decreased ball flight compared to a wind at your back.
So, all other factors being equal, if you want to see the longest drives or home runs, the warmer the temperatures, the muggier the air, the higher the elevation, and the stronger the wind is at your back, the better.