Leaflet: Basketball Backspin

DID YOU KNOW THAT

YOU CAN LEARN PHYSICS

WHILE PLAYING BASKETBALL?

This is about the science involved in

IMPARTING BACKSPIN!

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It looks at the following question:

“I don't want the basketball to bounce off the rim.

How do I get the ball to stay there and drop into the basket?”

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                                     http://sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com

GATEWAY TO SCIENCE:

SPORTS AND GAMES 

INSIDE LEFT

Listen to what a famous Boston Celtics coach said about this:

Fingertips help to impart backspin, which makes the shot softer. 

A ball that strikes the rim and then stops has good backspin.

Red Auerbach

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-- A shot from the fingertips is launched with backspin! --

What happens without backspin?

When you use the flat of your hand to throw the ball and the ball hits the rim, 

there will be some friction.

This collision robs the ball of some of its energy. It will slow it down.

However, the ball still has enough energy to keep it moving – 

and it can bounce right off the rim of the basket!

INSIDE CENTER

WHAT'S THE SCIENCE BEHIND BACKSPIN?

▪ In addition to traveling through the air, the ball is spinning, 

or rotating on its axis.

▪ With spin, the bottom of the ball moves faster.

▪ When the bottom of the ball hits the rim fast, this collision will cause 

enough friction so that the ball loses more energy.

▪ This slows the ball down, keeps it where you want it – 

so that gravity can finish the job!

INSIDE RIGHT

WHAT WORDS WILL HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE SO THAT I CAN PLAY BETTER BASKETBALL?

∫∫∫

ENERGY...Energy causes things to happen. 

The source can be solar, motion, biomechanical, electrical, to name a few.

AXIS OF ROTATION...Just as Earth spins around on its axis of rotation, 

a basketball with backspin also spins on its axis of rotation.

COLLISION...Two surfaces come in contact with each other.

FRICTION...When two surfaces meet, friction is produced. 

Friction slows things down.

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OUTSIDE LEFT

Sports and games are the gateway to science,

and YOU hold the key!

OUTSIDE CENTER (back of the leaflet)

The science of basketball... is just one of endless ways to gain an understanding of physics and geometry.     I hope this leaflet 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 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 Do an online search of your own See what books or videos your library has Share them with friends, your class, your team, your scout troop Thank you! Kathy Hogan Very helpful in preparing this: Galileo Got Game: 5 Things You Didn't Know About the Physics of Basketball by Aatish Bhatia in Science April 24, 2014                 Found in (and for much more): www.wired.com

The OUTSIDE RIGHT is found at the top (the cover)