In the discus throw, the speed of the discus as it exits the thrower's hand is dependent on Mechanical Energy. To understand the transfer of Mechanical Energy, we will assume a closed system with no friction.
In the discus throw, the speed of the discus as it exits the
thrower's hand is dependent on Mechanical Energy. To understand the
transfer of Mechanical Energy,
we will assume a closed system with no friction.
We will examine the motion of the full spin of the discus throw.
At the beginning of the full spin, the thrower winds up their
body like a spring, therefore storing Potential Energy. When it is time to execute the
throw, the thrower begins to transfer the stored Potential Energy
into Kinetic Energy.
This is shown by the thrower gaining speed within the throwing
circle. The Kinetic Energy
from the thrower is then transferred into Translational and Rotational
Energy
of the discus, which is addressed in the Rotational
Energy section.
The equation equivalence for the transfer of Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy in a closed system would be
represented as such:
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