Overview
The sport of basketball combines high energy with a fast pace. Although it is not essential to be an expert in math and physics to be a great basketball player, basketball moves such as jump shots, passing, and dribbling can illustrate math and physics concepts.
Jump Shot
When a player makes a jump shot, the ball travels in a parabolic arc; a familiar pathway in mathematics. The graph of a parabolic arc follows a quadratic equation. Its highest point is the vertex of the parabola. The distance of the parabolic arc the basketball follows is determined by the force and direction the player applies when he or she releases the ball. If the right amount of force is applied when the ball is released at the top of the jump shot, it is more likely to go into the net.
Hang Time
Basketball players use force and control their velocity in order to appear to hang in midair for a few seconds and defy gravity. A jumper also follows a parabolic arc, from the time he or she jumps into the air, through the hang time near the top of the arc, to the time at the bottom of the arc. A player who can jump 4 feet vertically into the air will be able to spend about a second in the air.
Patterns of Force
Players who pass the basketball and those who receive it both use force from their bodies, arms, and fingertips. The player passing the ball throws it outward, so that kinetic energy is transferred from the body to the ball. Players receiving the ball can allow the inertial movement of the ball to carry it forward by bending their arms slightly. Similarly, players can control the movement of the basketball by controlling its direction and bounce.
Potential and Kinetic Energy
As a basketball is dribbled across the court, its energy is constantly being transferred from potential to kinetic energy. It gathers potential energy at the top of the bounce and releases it in kinetic energy as the object speeds up. Since a basketball is filled with air molecules, higher air pressure and more force will cause it to bounce higher. Skilled players are able to use energy and control direction with constant spins, bounces, and shots.
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