Newton's Laws of Motion in Sports
First Law: Law of Inertia
Newton's First Law states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force. In sports, this principle is constantly at work!
Applications in Sports:
1. Starting from Rest
- A sprinter in the blocks needs to overcome their inertia
- The force they apply against the blocks must be greater than their body's resistance to movement
In swimming, a diver remains motionless on the board until they initiate movement. Their muscles must generate enough force to overcome their body's natural tendency to remain stationary.
2. Maintaining Motion
- A cyclist will continue moving at constant speed unless:
- Air resistance slows them down
- They apply brakes
- They encounter friction from the road
Athletes can use this law to their advantage by maintaining streamlined positions to reduce forces that would change their motion.
Second Law: F=ma
Sports Applications:
1. Shot Put
- The greater the force applied to the shot, the greater its acceleration
- Heavier shots require more force to achieve the same acceleration
A shot putter weighing 7.26kg requires more force to accelerate than a discus weighing 2kg. This is why shot put distances are typically shorter than discus throws.
