Volleyball and the Newton's Laws
All three Newton's Law of motion can be found in the sport volleyball. For every movement of the ball and the athletes illustrates at least of one of Newton’s three laws of motion.
Newton's 1st Law
LAW: An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an unbalanced force. An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
*note - this law is also known as inertia
An example of the Newton's First Law can be seen in a volleyball when the highest arc of a server’s toss, that moment when the ball is nearly motionless. It will either fall straight down due to the force of gravity, or sail across the court from the force of a hand serving it.
An other example is of a moving object. When it is spiked the volleyball moves in a fairly straight line downwards unless acted on by the force of the net, receiver’s forearms, blocker’s hands, or even the floor.
*note - this law is also known as inertia
An example of the Newton's First Law can be seen in a volleyball when the highest arc of a server’s toss, that moment when the ball is nearly motionless. It will either fall straight down due to the force of gravity, or sail across the court from the force of a hand serving it.
An other example is of a moving object. When it is spiked the volleyball moves in a fairly straight line downwards unless acted on by the force of the net, receiver’s forearms, blocker’s hands, or even the floor.
Newton's 2nd Law
LAW: Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass. The greater the mass is, the greater the amount of force needed.
The law of acceleration is seen every time a volleyball player moves on the court. For smaller athletes are more agile on the court because their lower mass accelerates and decelerates more quickly. This is particularly critical on defense during a volleyball game. While, heavier athletes need more time to get into position, or maybe more leg strength to move more quickly. Also the faster the arm swing of a player , the more force is exerted on a spiked volleyball at the moment of contact.
The law of acceleration is seen every time a volleyball player moves on the court. For smaller athletes are more agile on the court because their lower mass accelerates and decelerates more quickly. This is particularly critical on defense during a volleyball game. While, heavier athletes need more time to get into position, or maybe more leg strength to move more quickly. Also the faster the arm swing of a player , the more force is exerted on a spiked volleyball at the moment of contact.
Newton's 3rd Law
LAW: For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action.
Newton's third law of opposing forces can be seen when volleyball players jump off the gym floor. The force exerted by their feet downwards is countered by an opposing, upwards force exerted by the gym floor. If the floor didn’t “push back,” athletes wouldn’t be able to leave the ground and hit the ball when needed. Also did you know that the opposing force from the floor is why volleyball players get sore feet after a long practice session and bruises from hitting the floor after a hard dig.
Newton's third law of opposing forces can be seen when volleyball players jump off the gym floor. The force exerted by their feet downwards is countered by an opposing, upwards force exerted by the gym floor. If the floor didn’t “push back,” athletes wouldn’t be able to leave the ground and hit the ball when needed. Also did you know that the opposing force from the floor is why volleyball players get sore feet after a long practice session and bruises from hitting the floor after a hard dig.