Physics is something heavy to deal with, even more when a ball and a basket come in the mix, so you better put on your baller clothes, step right onto the field and throw that ball in the air until you score. I refer directly to the article physics of basketball by peter j. Its a playground where you can apply physics principles to try and get some added insight to the game. Lets play a little game called what happens when you drop a basketball off the top of a 126. The backspin points the magnus force up, causing the ball to fall slower than other pitches, imparting the illusion that the ball is rising. But that would be a very limited description of a book that is part autobiography, part motivational text. A ball the strikes the rim and then stops has good backspin. Almost everybody, at some point in their lives, has bounced a rubber ball. A brief explanation of the physics behind the backspin that basketball players are taught to put on their shots, with some assistance from a. Its more than just a clever reference for fans of college basketball in the us. Backspin produces an upwards force that prolongs the flight of a moving ball. Altogether, it was hard to put down until i was finished reading.
So, what is the reason for backspin on a basketball shot. There are many aspects to the physics of basketball. Eighteen male basketball players 7 guards, 8 forwards, 3 centers from six serbian senior teams were tested. Science has calculated the perfect basketball shot. If you put backspin on a ball, the air will go faster over the ball with more pressure underneath.
The video clip from science video maker veritasium features efforts by the australian trick basketball team how ridiculous to make a basket by dropping a ball off the gordon dam. Which was reprinted from american journal of physics 49, 356365 1981. Fontanella talked about how the physics of kinesthetic memory, putting a spin on the ball, and hang time all contribute to a perfect jump shot. Kinematic differences between set and jumpshot motions. Physics of basketball backspin backspin is used by players to improve their chances of getting the basketball into the net.
This suggest that while taking a shot putting spins on the ball is. The physics of kicking a soccer ball shael brown grade 8. Strobls passion for the sport and his gift for writing make the book a great read for all audiences, though the experiences strobl shares about playing as a college athlete and his journey after. Science has calculated the perfect basketball shot gizmodo. Why is putting rotation on a basketball when you shoot good.
Oct 03, 20 there isnt one correct way to shoot a basketball, but there are certain elements of a basketball shooting form common to all good basketball shooters that may be identified, tarkanian, 2012. The physics of golf optimal loft angle of golf club head it is an interesting physics problem to determine the optimal loft angle of a golf club head in order to maximize the driving distance. In the book the physics of basketball, the author, john fantanella, explains the magnus effect, the backspin which gives the ball a little bit of. Other fastballs, such as the twoseam and cutter, are thrown with spin, but are moving too fast for the magnus effect to change their position drastically. The engineers used a mens basketball for the study. A video showing how the magnus effect is applied to a basketball with backspin has gone viral with more than 5. Nathana department of physics, university of illinois, urbana, illinois 61801. We asked the experts how to get the mechanics and angles for a. This explains why a basketball player appears to hang during the jump. Basketball is a game of trajectories, which means theres a formula for the perfect free throw. They also assumed that the basketball player doing the shooting was 6 feet 6 inches tall, and that he released the ball 6 inches above his head. A backspin shot is also useful for defensive shots because a backspin shot takes longer to travel to the opponent, giving the defender more time to get back into position. While a normal hit bounces well forward as well as up, backspin shots bounce higher and less forward. The physics of a three point shot the university physics.
How it works, and found that to be of high interest as well. At some point the upward vector strike will cause more friction than the friction seen with the ball riding the face and thus top spin could be a reality. In racquet sports and golf, backspin also known in racket sports as slice or underspin, is a shot such that the ball rotates backwards as though rolling back towards the player after it is hit. I believe that anyone who reads backspin will enjoy it too. The science of the perfect golf shot popular mechanics. Backspin creates something physicists know as the magnus effect. Apr 01, 2010 most of us would think that this type of book would be quite boring, but i found it to be quite the opposite.
John fontanella in the first chapter of his book the physics of basketball paid link claims to have identified the final four. In the book the physics of basketball, author john fantanella, explains that the magnus effect is when backspin gives the ball a little lift allowing for the slowest possible speed, creating a dip in elevation and a less violent rebound off the backboard or rim. The physics of basketball the johns hopkins university press 2006 this book is the authoritative reference on the physics of basketball its a clearly explained and delightfully empirically zealous take on the subject. There will be an ideal rotation rate in radians per second on a jump shot from the free throw line that correlates to a greater accuracy on an individual basis. In the book the physics of basketball, the author, john fantanella, explains the magnus effect, the backspin which gives the ball a little bit of lift allowing for the slowest possible speed and a. The magnus effect is an observable phenomenon that is commonly associated with a spinning.
Consequently, the phenomenon is important in the study of the physics of many ball sports. The backspin of a basketball is also argued to be important as a teaching element to reproduce the same shot through muscle memory. Fontanella used physics to calculate the exact launch angle for players of different height. A ball coming in without spin that hits the front of the rim and bounces will continue on at high speed and hit the backboard at high speed, and most likely bounce back out over the front of the rim, with no chance to fall through a brick. Can studying the laws of physics help you be a better basketball player. The physics of basketball introduction any child can pick up a basketball, bounce it a few times, and throw it at the hoop without realizing the complex physics he is involving himself in. Putting a bit of backspin on a jump shot gives it a better chance of going.
Basketball physics is a funaddicting, one button, 2 player basketball game by. In a way, a game like basketball is a physics geeks delight. The physics of freethrow shooting november 3, 2009 mick kulikowski pay attention, shaq. Basketball physics play free basketball physics games online. In this book we get to see many of the nbas best players at work and find out the physics of the sport as we go. Sep, 2015 according to the book the physics of basketball, the author john fontanella pointed out that the backspin one puts on the ball while releasing it allows the ball to travel the slowest possible speed in the air and a less violent rebound when it hits the board or the rim. Dec, 2012 a good jump shot typically has a good amount of backspin so that if the ball were to ricochet off the backboard it would come off at a downward angle into the hoop. Could the physics of free throws have won the cavs the finals. Drain three pointers, slam dunk easily, and sink that buzz. Nov 08, 2009 a little bit of physics and a lot of practice can make everyone a better shooter from the freethrow line. What they may or may not understand is when you have backspin on the ball when you shoot, when the ball hits the rim with the appropriate arc, it tends to bounce straight up, rather than off to the side, giving you an extra chance for the ball to drop. Pete has worked with both of them at his basketball skills academy, the scoring factory. Fontanella has identified the four forces that affect the trajectory of a basketball.
The goal of this project is to determine if the balls starting position for shooting a basketball affects a players shooting percentage. This is useful for players who bounce the ball off the backboard, or the back of the net. But what happens if you give it a little backspin before you let go. When an object is spinning and bounces off something, it will have a tendency to bounce in the direction of the spin. Your number one goal is to move the ball as far as you possibly can and in the straightest direction. Fisher teaches a physicsbased methodology, which allows you to find your best shot. Problem b abstractaccurately predicting the trajectory of a spinning basketball through air and as it interacts with a rim. Jumping for the ball, or leaping for a slam dunk, the human body follows the same laws of projectile motion as do other objects. It would be simple to say that pete strobls book, backspin, describes his experiences as a college basketball player at niagara university and nine years playing professional basketball in europe. Jul 15, 2015 backspin basketball flies off dam veritasium.
The 94fifty basketball sensor was used to obtain the kinematic parameters of the jump. The term used by most basketball connoisseurs to describe the trajectory at which the basketball flies through the air is arch. Mar 25, 2014 in the book the physics of basketball, the author, john fantanella, explains the magnus effect, the backspin which gives the ball a little bit of lift allowing for the slowest possible speed and a. The physics of basketball essay 1832 words 8 pages. The anatomy of the free throw basketball games often come down to a maddening exchange of free throws. Drain three pointers, slam dunk easily, and sink that buzzer beater from half court with the help of simple science. Late last summer, i did a post about backspin on basketball shots, and. As a huge basketball fan, i had always been interested in science behind basketball. This direction of spin imparts an upward force that lifts the ball see magnus effect. Nov 19, 2006 youll even learn how to shatter the backboard, if thats something youve always dreamed of doing.
That means that a shot hitting the front bit of the rim with spin comes off a little more slowly than it otherwise wouldve. The loft angle is the angle between the club head face and the vertical plane, and the driving distance is the distance the ball travels through the. The physics of baseball third edition is a well thought out and tested book. Bouncing ball physics is an interesting subject of analysis, demonstrating several interesting dynamics principles related to acceleration, momentum, and energy.
The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. With photographs and simple high school formulas, physics professor fontanellawho played in college against pittsburgh and syracusereveals the key pieces of physics that underscore basketball. Fontanella, shows how you can improve your game if you take advice from isaac newton. This is the magnus effect, where the descending, spinning basketball drags air around it, forming areas of lower pressure and high pressure, causing it to swerve away. Jun 07, 2018 a brief explanation of the physics behind the backspin that basketball players are taught to put on their shots, with some assistance from a couple of union college players. Its the big drive that leads off almost every hole. The most common area of basketball to which physics is applied is the act of shooting a basketball. As i wrote last summer, it has to do with the bounce of the ball.
And that has another advantage because when a ball with back spin hits. An excellent physics paper on the physics of backspin, layups, and other fun stuff. As the subhead on the cover states, backspin is one players journey from the u. Shooting a basketball with backspin has proved to be a reliable method. Aug 31, 2017 putting a bit of backspin on a jump shot gives it a better chance of going in, thanks to physics. This book explains everything there is about baseball physics. A brief explanation of the physics behind the backspin that basketball players are taught to put on their shots, with some assistance from a couple of union college players. Jan 01, 1990 the physics of baseball third edition is a well thought out and tested book. Well, thats a whole different story, as you can see in the latest. In this project, youll measure shooting percentage when players shoot baskets from chest height, chin height, and over the head. Everywhere from running, fielding, bat physics, hitting, and most interestingly, pitching. As you read, relive some of the great moments in the gamethis time with a scientist and diehard basketball fan as your color analyst.
Could the physics of free throws have won the cavs the. Two north carolina state university engineers have figured out the best way to shoot a free throw a frequently underappreciated skill that. Backspin definition is a backward rotary motion of a ball. This will cause the ball to rise and travel farther.
According to darrick flores, there are two types of shots. Most people who study the physics of basketball get deep into the art of shooting, passing, and dribbling instead of actually playing the sport. In the book the physics of basketball, the author, john fantanella, explains the magnus effect, the backspin which gives the ball a little bit of lift. It is very descriptive and should be in the hands of baseball players everywhere. Published on jun 7, 2018 a brief explanation of the physics behind the backspin that basketball players are taught to put on their shots, with some assistance from a couple of union college players. Jul 09, 2014 backspin is a highly entertaining memoir of basketball player pete strobl a scholarship athlete turned professional, playing for several european leagues between the years 2000 and 2008. Shooting a basketball with backspin has proved to be a. Basketball tips portable basketball hoop tips basketball. According to the book the physics of basketball, the author john fontanella pointed out that the backspin one puts on the ball while releasing it allows the ball to travel the slowest possible speed in the air and a. Backspin on the ball helps the ball bounce forward into the net after coming in contact with the rim or backboard. My kids are in high school and middle school, and each want to read backspin disclosure. Youve got the interplay of projectile motion and collisions, energy and momentum, and so on. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more. Jul 17, 2015 a video showing how the magnus effect is applied to a basketball with backspin has gone viral with more than 5.
Why is putting rotation on a basketball when you shoot. A ball with backspin distorts the airflow and causes the air pressure below the. The anatomy of the free throw ncaa basketball march madness. Unless a golfer strikes the golf ball with a tangent vector in an upward direction that somehow supersedes the physics inherent in the backspin equation. So, a player who can jump 4 feet vertically will have a hang time of around a second, with half a second spent in the high part of the jump. This book is the authoritative reference on the physics of basketball its a clearly explained and. Jul 12, 2018 the resultthe perfect free throw, according to physicswas to release the ball 7 feet above the ground, at a launch angle of 52 degrees, with 3 hertz of backspin about three and a half total. According to the book the physics of basketball, the author john fontanella pointed out that the backspin one puts on the ball while releasing it. Oct 01, 2014 unless a golfer strikes the golf ball with a tangent vector in an upward direction that somehow supersedes the physics inherent in the backspin equation. Backspin did you know that basketball players are trained to shoot from their fingertips, not from their palms.
Also, because backspin shots tend to bounce less far forward once they reach the opposite court, they may be more difficult to attack. The fundamentals of many sports are the accumulated wisdom of experience. Most basketball players shoot with some backspin, but sometimes not enough. At some point the upward vector strike will cause more friction than the friction seen with. Dissecting the physics of basketball bank shots wired. The physics of kicking a soccer ball mathematics shed. The physics of basketball basketball isn t as easy as people depict it to be. The difference between getting a friendly bounce on the rim and the ball clanking off for a miss could often be the amount of backspin you put on the basketball when you shoot it. More from coach fisher john fontanellas groundbreaking book, the physics of basketball, changed my thinking. Backspin, by pete strobl, is a fascinating book that is part basketball, part memoir, and part motivational.
658 768 1204 612 852 38 900 1204 1537 64 544 528 1533 3 450 1030 1642 105 112 284 1514 460 518 463 814 1259 144 439 121 678 1328 363 1359 947 201 851 56 454 207 486 925 405