The Physics of Sports
Fermilab
Tevatron, 4 miles around
Main Injector, 2 miles around
Argonne National Laboratory
Physics explains things that are very, very large.
Physics explains things that are very, very small.
Physics explains things that are right in front of us.
Newton’s First Law
• Objects at rest remain at rest • Objects in motion remain in motion UNTIL YOU APPLY A FORCE
Newton’s Second Law
F = ma
What forces are important in sports?
Flight Path
Energy in the baseball/bat collision
The Home Run Swing
• Ball arrives on 100 downward trajectory • Big Mac swings up at 250 • Ball takes off at 350
The optimum home run angle!
Courtesy of A. Nathan, University of Illinois. http://www.npl.uiuc.edu/~a-nathan/pob/
Newton’s Third Law
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Conservation of Energy
Potential Energy
Kinetic Energy
Kinetic Energy
Compression Energy Heat and Sound Energy
Conservation of Momentum
If m1 = m2 , then v1 = v2
Conservation of Momentum
Equipment features
• Ball material, size, shape, and texture • Properties of the club, bat, racquet, or stick
http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/211_fall2002.web.dir/Daniel_Lenord/vault.html
Air Resistance (drag)
F R I C T I O N
Resistance & Friction
The Power of Spin
Spins in Figure Skating
Spins in Figure Skating
Reaction Time
Downhill skier speed: 80 mph
Reaction Time in Baseball
Courtesy of R. Adair through A. Nathan.
Measure your reaction time…
Compare your reaction time…
Equation used: t = √((2d)/g)
Physical laws explain the world
• Newton’s Laws of Motion • Conservation of Energy • Conservation of Momentum These laws help us explain everything about sports.
Physics really is everywhere!
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The Physics of Sports