Physics of Sports Video

Our Task

Our task was to create a one to three minute video showing the physics of a selected sport action. In a couple weeks, we completed this assignment. We had to show our group doing the action along with all the physics required in it. We chose to do our project on shooting a basketball. So, our main question was: what are the physics used while shooting a basketball? We decided to do something unique by not just showing us shooting a simple shot on a regular hoop. We brought in a mini basketball hoop and ball that we attached to a door. We came up with several fun trick shots and practiced making them on the mini hoop. We did our calculations on not only our mini basketball shots, but also on NBA player Stephen Curry's 3-point shot. We included a clip of his shot in our video while we talked about some of the physics he used to make that shot. We wanted to include both sets of shots and calculations so we could give our audience an understanding of the physics of shooting an actual basketball in real life, as well as including a fun aspect to our assignment. It also shows a comparison between the two types of shots and physics required to make both. After getting all of our shots on the mini hoop recorded and other video clips complete, we started working on the physics and calculations of our shots. We finally edited and added to our final video with things such as voice overs, additional information, and effects. We ended up showing our final video to a very large audience full of fellow groups who completed the same assignment but on different sports actions, as well as parents and other adults. We presented our project and answered any questions they had.

Calculations

In our video, we explain the physics for the mini basketball shots while we take turns shooting them. Here are the physics our group found required to make a 3-point shot on a normal basketball hoop:

We calculated for the....

• horizontal velocity
• vertical velocity
• total velocity
• force of a basketball on your hands
• kinetic energy

Horizontal Velocity

We calculated to find the horizontal, or "sideways" velocity of a basketball during a 3-point shot. To do this, we used a formula we had previously learned and substituted the numbers we had. The formula is horizontal distance over time. We found that the horizontal distance between the 3-point line and the hoop was 7.25 meters. We also found that the time it took for the ball to travel through the air to get there was 1.34 seconds. We plugged these into the formula and the answer produced was 5.4. So, the horizontal velocity is 5.4 meters per second.

Vertical Velocity

Vertical velocity is the falling speed of something. So, my group wanted to find the falling speed of a basketball during a shot. We used the formula for vertical velocity to find this. The formula is the acceleration due to gravity multiplied by the time of fall. We know the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 meters per seconds squared. And we found that the time the basketball was falling toward the hoop when it is shot was 0.7 seconds. So we multiplied the numbers together and ended up finding out that the vertical velocity was 6.86 meters per second.

Total Velocity

We found this calculation by using the Pythagorean Theorem. This is A-squared plus B-squared equals C-squared. We plugged the horizontal velocity we had previously found for A and our vertical velocity for B. So we were left with 5.4 squared plus 6.86 squared equals C-squared. That turns into 76.2196. Since you have squared numbers, you must take the square root of this total. This left a final answer of 8.73 meters per second as our total velocity.

Force of Basketball on Your Hands

We were able to calculate this by using a formula we had learned before. The formula is mass multiplied by velocity equals force multiplied by time. Our first step was to begin substituting in numbers we had already found that would fit in this equation. We researched and found that the mass of a basketball used in the NBA was 0.625 kilograms. We also knew that the velocity was 8.73 by finding the total velocity before this. Last, we had found that the time of release of a basketball from a person's hand during a shot was about 0.15 seconds. So we began solving to find the force with all this information. The number we were left with for the force was 36.37. This means the force of basketball on your hands when you are holding it before you shoot is 36.37 newtons.

Kinetic Energy

The last calculation we took was for the kinetic energy of the basketball when it is shot. We did this by using the simple kinetic energy formula. This formula is 1/2 multiplied by mass, multiplied by velocity squared. Since we had previously found all these numbers, we were able to plug them into the formula and start solving. After plugging in the numbers, our equation produced an answer of 45.57 joules.

Reflection

Being our second project this year, I would say this assignment ended up very successful. I felt that the group I worked with for this project, including myself, was all able to take things we learned from our previous projects and groups and use them to help make things run smoother and better for this one. We used the bad experience and good experience to benefit the way we completed this assignment in the time we had.

Another thing that went well was the way our group divided up work and tasks so that we would finish in time with a final result we were proud of. And we were able to do just that with the strategy we used. We looked at the requirements and jobs we would have to complete and split them up between us based on experience. An example of this is how we decided that one of my group mates who had a lot of film and technological background would work on most of the editing for our video. And how another group member who was the most confident on the calculations aspect of this assignment would take the lead on that. This was a strategy that was very similar to me because it is what my previous group for our last project did. That is one of the ways knowledge, experience, etc. from having done projects already earlier this year was very helpful and a key factor in our success.

Reflecting back on this project, I can say it was a great experience and I felt it really helped me as a student. I was able to learn and gain knowledge about new things such as editing, filming, and some of the physics we had to take from our sports action. I had great group that was all able to take leadership when needed, and also help each other if someone got stuck. I can speak for my group when I say we all ended up producing a final video we were very proud of. I can't wait to take on the next project!