LEAFLET: PHYSICS OF JUMP ROPING

Title page

DID YOU KNOW THAT

YOU CAN LEARN PHYSICS

WHILE  JUMP ROPING?

This is about the science involved in jump roping. It will answer a few of your questions about how a jump rope works.

It answers the following questions: 

What forces get  the rope going?

What forces keep it going?

What force slows it down AND speeds it up?

What other force slows down the rope?

______________

sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com

“Gateway to Science: Sports and Games” Quincy Access Television

1st inside page (left)

WHAT FORCES GET THE ROPE GOING?

YOU  (or  two  of  you)  are  the  fuel  (the  energy)  providing

            A pushing up and out force AND

            A turning force (called torque)

Between YOUR hands is the axis of rotation.

 

WHAT FORCES KEEP IT GOING?

Torque  keeps the rope spinning around the   axis of rotation  (YOU). 

And this gives us centripetal force  (a force that follows a curved path and is drawn to the center). 

In addition, angular momentum (momentum going in a 360° circle — always changing angles)  helps maintain  inertia — a tendency to stay in motion.

2nd inside page (middle)

WHAT FORCE  SLOWS DOWN  THE ROPE  and  SPEEDS IT UP?

What  force  works  against and for  the  forces  of  motion?

FIRST WAY.  Gravity  pulls down on the  jump rope.  When the rope is going up, gravity pulls against it. 

SECOND WAY.    However, then when the rope  is  going  down, gravity helps you.  It helps the rope keep moving in that direction. 

 

Guess what?

A hula hoop works on the same principles.  But there is a difference:

The hoop is on a horizontal   ----  plane.

 The jumprope is on a vertical │ plane.

  

3rd inside page (right)

WHAT  OTHER  FORCE  SLOWS DOWN THE ROPE?

What other force works against the forces of motion?

Friction is a slowing force that works against motion.

Friction between the rope and:

    1 – the floor and your hands

    2 – the air (air resistance, or drag)

will work to slow down the rope.

However, the hands supply the energy   to turn the rope, so this probably cancels out the effect of friction from the hands.

 

       

Back page

Jump roping  is just one of endless ways to  gain  an  understanding  of  physics and geometry.  I hope this pamphlet introduces you to seeing things you never saw before – or wondered about but just didn’t know where to start.

Physics and geometry come into play in every single activity and event going on around us. 

Knowing how things work can add to your performance and to your fun.    

So give it a try.  How?

·

Start with the information here.
 

·        You may not understand everything in it right away, but for now, 

       use what you do understand.

·          

           See what books or videos your library has.

·        Share them with your friends, your class, your team, your scout troop.

·        Read my blog and tell others:     sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com

 

·        See my show on Quincy Access Television, channel 8: 

“Gateway to Science:  Sports & Games”

      Thank you!    Kathy Hogan

Sports and games are

the gateway to science,

and YOU hold the key!