PHYSICS OF BASKETBALL

WHY I CHOSE THIS SPORT..

• I like this sport
• I like it because its really active
• Ive played basketball since i was little

Another important part of the game of basketball is dribbling the basketball. Obviously, a ball with more air in it will bounce higher than a ball that has no air in it. “The more air pressure a basketball has inside it, the less its surface will bend or deform during a bounce, and the more its original energy will be stored in the compressed air inside. Air stores and returns more energy than the material that the ball is made from” (Willis). Another way to look at dribbling the ball can be concerned with the potential and kinetic energy the ball has. When the ball is held the ball has potential energy. Upon its release to the floor, the potential energy converts to kinetic energy. “As the ball hit’s the floor the kinetic energy is stored as elastic potential energy. Because of this elastic energy the ball and the floor dent” (Flores).

• Another important part of the game of basketball is dribbling the basketball. Obviously, a ball with more air in it will bounce higher than a ball that has no air in it. “The more air pressure a basketball has inside it, the less its surface will bend or deform during a bounce, and the more its original energy will be stored in the compressed air inside. Air stores and returns more energy than the material that the ball is made from” (Willis). Another way to look at dribbling the ball can be concerned with the potential and kinetic energy the ball has. When the ball is held the ball has potential energy. Upon its release to the floor, the potential energy converts to kinetic energy. “As the ball hit’s the floor the kinetic energy is stored as elastic potential energy. Because of this elastic energy the ball and the floor dent.

First of all let’s establish two different types of shots the jump shot and the lay up. For the jump shot, there is little horizontal movement because the jump shot deals more with vertical movement. The ball itself is pushed off of his or her finger tips and the force and angle is applied upon release. Jeff Hornacek, NBA player, uses a different type of jump shot. He uses more of a running jump shot. Therefore, in the case of his jump shot there is more of a horizontal movement and a lesser amount of the vertical movement. “By not pushing the shot toward the basket, he doesn’t add velocity to the ball. Rather, allowing his running speed that he is traveling to be the horizontal velocity” (Kentridge). The running jump shot is a fairly rare type of shot used by players. The lay up, however, is a shot based more on momentum. “The velocity on the ball is the sum of the shooters speed and the balls speed”

The art of passing the ball and receiving the ball shouldn’t be a very complicated process. Basically, as long as a person tries to catch the ball with their arms slightly bent it will be much easier as the person will be able to reduce the force by increasing the time of the pass.

In the NBA, power forwards usually range from 6' 8" to 6' 11" (2.03–2.11 m) and 240 to 260 pounds (110 to 120 kg) or more. Despite the averages, a variety of players fit "tweener" roles which finds them in the small forward and/or center position depending upon matchups and coaching decisions. Some "natural" power forwards often play the center position and have the skills but lack the height that is associated with that position.

In basketball, playing at the wing position means taking on the duties of both the guard and post positions, essentially making it a hybrid of the two. A wing player should be able to facilitate the offense by scoring or distributing the ball, be able to move fluidly to set up teammates, and be a lock down defender who's able to cover the oppositions top.

The center, colloquially known as the five or the big man, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game and is commonly abbreviated "C". The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well. A typical NBA center is usually 6' 10" (2.08 m) or taller.