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Physics of a basketball
Conclusion of mathematics in sports
Physics in sports
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The value of physics goes beyond answering the “big questions” of how the universe was
created and why the Earth orbits the sun. Physics can also have everyday real-life applications as
well. One of the major ways to explore physics and how it relates to the real world is through
sports because essentially every sport utilizes multiple physics principles. Indeed, physicists are
able to connect the mechanism of a ball or an athlete in action to the laws of motion that govern
the way objects move on this planet. Fastballs, 3-point shots, and free kicks can all be analyzed
and broken down using physical concepts like gravity, momentum, force, and acceleration.
Doing so can explain why certain phenomena occur in the major leagues,
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Although the equations and calculations of these ideas may appear only theoretical,
sometimes they may be used to one’s advantage by changing a technique a certain way to
produce positive results. The goal of this paper will be to examine the physics behind three of
America’s most popular sports: baseball, basketball, and soccer. The focus will be to use physics
to find what determines the trajectory of a basketball shot, the speed of a pitch, or the curve of a
soccer kick. It will also, through the use of concepts in physics, describe what constitutes or
influences the “perfect” basketball free throw, baseball pitch, or soccer kick.
In basketball, shooting is one of, if not, the most fundamental aspect of basketball. A
team that shoots well will obviously score a lot of points and probably win the game regardless
of the opponent’s offence. Great passing and fancy footwork are nice, but ultimately, the main
point of basketball is to try to put the ball in the basket. Thus, it is crucial to explore the various
physical aspects of the shot. This is possible because according to legendary coach Jerry
Tarkanian, shooting a basketball is actually a science because it involves mechanical
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Moreover, once it leaves a shooters hand, it rises and
falls in a fixed parabolic path that can be calculated using Newton’s laws of motion (White).
Therefore, in combining the physics of the shooter before the shot and the projectile of the ball
after the shot, physicists are able to discuss the physics behind the “perfect shot.” In pursuit of
this idea, two engineers and NC State University studied hundreds of thousands of trajectories of
free throws made by some exceptional free throw shooters. They concluded that first of all,
players should shoot with three hertz of back spin, which is equal to the ball making three back
spinning revolutions before hitting the hoop. Backspin slows down the ball when it bounces on
the backboard, making it closer to the rim and giving it a greater chance to fall through the net
(Nothing But Net: The Physics of Free-Throw Shooting). Furthermore, the two engineers state
that the ball should be launched 52 degrees above the horizontal because a launch angle of
In lacrosse, the overhead shot is the most vital part of the game and the most important skill that an offensive player can have. The goal of the lacrosse shot is to create a scoring attempt with peak speed and accuracy. Each player is different regarding personal technique; however, the basis of each shot remains the same and are interpreted through six phases. The general purpose of this paper is to describe trunk rotation and its impact on power and accuracy which will maximize the potential of a lacrosse shot.
For years it was thought that the golf swing was a solid piece of movement without any differentiating variables. Vast expansion in technology over the last 20 years has produced more information on the biomechanics of the golf swing. “ Golf Biomechanics applies the principles and technique of golf mechanics to the structure and function of the golfer in an effort to improve the golf technique and performance” (Hume P., Keogh J., and Reid D. 2005) Biomechanics, “The scientific discipline that applies mechanical principles and to understanding movement.” (Hume P., Keogh J., and Reid D. 2005) allows scientists to observe a golfer’s swing to near milliseconds to the point of impact. This is much more precise to previous measurements used such as video recordings, outlines, etc. Understanding how the swing works by breaking down the movements within the swing through visual aids emphasize the opportunity for a better swing and in turn, better golf. Studies of biomechanics within the golf swing have shown the sequential separation from torso to pelvis, disproving the original theory of a solid swing with continuous motion known as the X-factor. Before understanding how the biomechanics of the golf swing works with the X-factor, the basics of the swing must be established.
All the math work, along with physics principles, aided in proving that math has a significant role in the game of softball. Although people know that math is included in softball, the degree of its inclusion is still a mystery to both the audience and players. As seen in the mathematics work and graphs above, an average throw of a regulation fast pitch softball is parabolic in shape. This parabola has a curvature known as the trajectory, or the bath of the flying ball. This trajectory and parabola increases as the distance of the throw increases, therefore, the maximum height of the throw increases. This proves that an average softball throw has many mathematical aspects that shape the way the sport is played.
Most people might just assume that baseball is a boring game played with two teams that have nine players on each side, who both take turns hitting and going on defense. People sometimes think that the game is only nine innings, and the team with the most amount of runs in the end wins. But there is so much more to it than that and it's all thanks to mathematics. I have especially noticed this due to my personal engagement with baseball, it is the main sport I play and I play almost everyday for about 2 hours a day. I play for Stratford high school and baseball has had a large impact on my life which is a big reason why I wanted to do this particular topic. I love baseball and have played it for
The game of baseball has several elements of motion to it – throwing, catching, hitting, running – but I’ve chosen to focus on the physics involved in hitting a baseball. To a spectator, the exchange is simple: the pitcher throws the baseball, an opposing batter tries to hit the ball. Even to an athlete, the process is not one of thought, but of instinct and action. However, in actuality, the laws of physics dictate everything that will occur from the moment the baseball leaves the pitcher’s hand. Even the very familiar equipment o...
Shooting is the main part of basketball. If you don’t shoot, you don’t score and if you don’t score you lose, and nobody likes to lose. Shooting the ball is something that takes a extreme amount of time for it to become perfect. I’ve been playing basketball for over 10 years and I still don’t know how to shoot the perfect shot.
The best way to take a jump shot is by squaring both the shoulders and feet ...
Gymnasts use physics everyday. As a gymnast I never realized how much physics went into every motion, every back handspring, every mistake on the bars. If gymnasts were physicists (or at least knew more about physics) they would be better equipped to handle the difficult aspects of gymnastics. As a gymnast I learned the motions that were necessary to complete the tricks that I was working on, and as a coach I taught others the same. I never truly understood why a particular angle gave me a better back handspring or why the angle that I hit a springboard at really mattered when completing a vault. We are going to explore some of the different apparatuses in gymnastics and a few of the physics laws that are involved in them. We will not even barely scratch the surface of the different ways that physics can explain gymnastics.
through. Then, the snares are gone. In this experiment I will investigate the way in which the height from which it is dropped affects the bounce of a table tennis ball. The ball is a Planning Objects that fall vertically, without air resistance, all have the same effect. same acceleration at ground level on Earth, which is 9.80665m/s2.
Physics is everywhere. Consequently, physics is a part of sports and more specifically, hockey. As the scientific discoveries progressed with time, so did the advancements in the sport of hockey, reflecting on how important and influential science truly is. Physics takes part in the ice, the skates, the protective gear, the shots, goaltending, and all other aspects of ice hockey.
has to stand behind a piece of tape and try to throw the hoops over
This investigation aims to determine the ideal air pressure inside and the ideal material of a ball in order for that ball to achieve its greatest bounce height. This report will be focusing on how the air pressure and material of a soccer ball, basketball and volleyball affects the bounce height of each ball.
Physics can be used to explain a lot of things. In this paper I described some basic concepts in physics that are relevant to basketball, particularly the three main parts of basketball, shooting, dribbling and passing. So the next time you are out shooting some hoops just think of all the physics that are being applied and you could be one step away from being a physicist, and have fun.
Sports are often identified to have positive influences on many individuals. The sports industry is growing worldwide, especially the basketball industry, which is regarded in second place behind football. The global prevalence of basketball is unquestionable, especially among the young. Basketball is a dynamic team sport that involves a pattern of alternating, active, and skilled movement activities. There are compound demands that require a mixture of individual skills, team plays, strategies, and motivational aspects.
The higher an object is held, the more potential energy it has (if it is going to be dropped). When that object, such as the basketball, is dropped, its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. The closer the ball gets to the ground, the more its potential energy decreases and its kinetic energy increases. The reason the ball does not bounce up all the way back to its original drop point is because when it hits the surface, some of its kinetic energy is “l...