Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Schreiber
That is true for catapults, but I was under the impression that a linear launcher (like I imagined they were using if they were asking about angle from an arm) would be more efficient at energy transfer. With the exception of friction what would prevent it from imparting energy? Deformation of the ball?
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Friction, deformation, and...
When the catapult/kicker/punch hits its hard stop, all its kinetic energy at that point is lost and not transferred to the ball.