The physics of basketball is very interesting. There is several
defferent physics when it comes to baskdetball and they are spin on the
ball, receiving a pass, bouncing the ball, starting, stopping, and
changing direction, foul shots, and layups.
Spin on the ball
-the ball leaves in a parabolic path after leaving shooters
hand. Backspin is only used to give the ball a better chance of going
into the net after hitting the rim. This is because the velocity of the
ball changes from when it is on its way to the rim and after it hits
the rim. This is what makes the ball more likely to go in the basket .
Basketballs move to slowly for the air resistance to be a factor.
-The ball as it is coming at you has momentum which is mass times velocity. so since MV=FT that means that F=MV/T. So if you increase the time it takes for the pass to get there the less force it will have.
Bouncing the ball
-More air pressure less ball will bend or deform after each bounce. This also makes it easier to store the energy inside the ball. You need to have a high pressured ball to make sure that you can have the greatest elastic colision possible between the floor and the ball. Also if the floor is soft then it takes some of the energy from the ball when the ball hits the floor.
Direction change, Starting, Stopping
-Players need good traction when playing ball so that means that the coefficient of friction must be high between the shoe and the floor. There is both a frictional force and static frictional force acting on a player when trying to run and start and stop.
Shooting and layups
- This is a calculation that can be done but no one will ever be able to shoot with the right angle and distance needed to make a shot everytime. This is why we have to practice shooting the same shot over and over again to get our muscles familier with how far we have to shoot the ball. This is called kinesthetic memory.