9781422274767

CONNECTING STEM AND SPORTS STEM in Auto Racing STEM in Baseball & Softball STEM in Basketball STEM in Extreme Sports STEM in Football

STEM in Gymnastics STEM in Ice Hockey STEM in Soccer STEM in Track & Field

CONNECTING STEM AND SPORTS | BASKETBALL

STEM CONNECTING SPORTS AND

STEM IN BASKETBALL

JACQUELINE HAVELKA

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First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN (hardback) 978-1-4222-4332-9 ISBN (series) 978-1-4222-4329-9 ISBN (ebook) 978-1-4222-7476-7

Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress

Developed and Produced by National Highlights Inc. Editor: Andrew Luke Interior and cover design: Annalisa Gumbrecht, Studio Gumbrecht Production: Michelle Luke

CONNECTING STEM AND SPORTS | BASKETBALL QR CODES AND LINKS TO THIRD-PARTY CONTENT You may gain access to certain third-party content (“Third-Party Sites”) by scanning and using the QR Codes that appear in this publication (the “QR Codes”). We do not operate or control in any respect any information, products, or services on such Third-Party Sites linked to by us via the QR Codes included in this publication, and we assume no responsibility for any materials you may access using the QR Codes. Your use of the QR Codes may be subject to terms, limitations, or restrictions set forth in the applicable terms of use or otherwise established by the owners of the Third-Party Sites. Our linking to such Third- Party Sites via the QR Codes does not imply an endorsement or sponsorship of such Third-Party Sites or the information, products, or services offered on or through the Third-Party Sites, nor does it imply an endorsement or sponsorship of this publication by the owners of such Third-Party Sites.

CHAPTER 1 FORCES THAT ACT ON A BASKETBALL . ......................9 CHAPTER 2 FREE-THROW PHYSICS ................................................19 CHAPTER 3 THE SCIENCE OF THE JUMP SHOT ............................27 CHAPTER 4 SHATTERING THE BACKBOARD . ................................39 CHAPTER 5 BASKETBALL ANALYTICS .............................................47 CHAPTER 6 THE EQUIPMENT . ........................................................55 CHAPTER 7 TRAINING, FITNESS, AND NUTRITION .......................63 Series Glossary of Key Terms..............................................................76 Further Reading & Internet Resources................................................77 Index...................................................................................................78 Author Biography & Credits................................................................80 TABLE OF CONTENTS

KEY ICONS TO LOOK FOR:

Words To Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills.

Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more!

Text-Dependent Questions: These questions send the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there.

Research Projects: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected to each chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis.

Series Glossary Of Key Terms: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminology used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

INTRODUCTION Macaroni and cheese. Texting and emojis. STEM and sports. What? STEM—and sports? Yes! When one thinks about STEM classes and sports, they seem like opposites, right? You’re either in the classroom learning, or you’re on the court. But STEM and sports really do go together. STEM is education in four specific areas—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Rather than being taught as separate subjects, STEM curriculum is integrated for real-world learning. When a science class visits an amusement park, the students learn the principles of physics, use math to make calculations, and learn about the engineering and technology used to construct roller coasters and other rides. Basketball is a game of athletic strength and skill, but it is also a game of science and energy. Newton’s laws of physics definitely apply to basketball. > Newton’s First Law: An object at rest stays at rest. To move, an external force must act on it. This defines the law of inertia. > Newton‘s Second Law of Motion defines the famous F=ma equation. This law says that the force of an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. The harder the basketball is thrown, the more force it has. > Newton‘s Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction Basketball players make some amazing plays, but you might be surprised to find out there is lots of science behind those plays. Let’s take a look at the STEM concepts in basketball. We’ll explore concepts like force, inertia, acceleration, and projectile motion—all important to the game.

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KEY ICONS TO LOOK FOR:

Words To Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will in the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills. Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowled gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving toget additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more! backspin: a backward rotating motion of a ball gravity: a fundamental physical force that is responsible for interactions that occur because of mass between particles, between aggregations of matter, a d between particles momentu : a property of a moving body that determines the length of time required to bring it to rest when under the action of a constant force WORDS TO UNDERSTAND Text-Dependent Questions: These questions send the reader back to the text for careful attention to the evidence presented there.

Research Projects: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected t chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and

Series Glossary Of Key Terms: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminolog used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read a comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

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CHAPTER

THROWING FORCES THAT ACT ON A BASKETBALL Introduction

Archaeologists think that the early Olmec people of ancient Mexico played the first games similar to modern basketball 500 years ago. The Aztecs and the Mayans also had a similar game, except they used human skulls instead of rubber balls. Yikes! The first game of basketball as we know it today was played in 1892 in Massachusetts. The game was invented to have a fun sport to do indoors during the long winter months. The rules were simple, and the baskets were actually peach baskets nailed to the wall. Amazingly, more than 100 years later, many of the same rules are still in place. Today, basketball is played worldwide, and we know the professional sport to be a game of lightning-fast speed and agility. However, you don’t have to be a pro to enjoy the sport. Basketball can be played anywhere there is ball and a mounted circular object that can act as a hoop. Think about how many millions of people across the globe play this sport. Do you think they all realize that gravity is the fundamental force in the game of basketball? Shooting,

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Dribbling is just one of the elements of basketball that is affected by gravity.

dunking, dribbling, and passing all are affected by gravity as well as other forces. Without these forces, there would be no game! Newton’s First Law is important in all aspects of a basketball game. Let’s dig a little deeper. Backspin When you shoot a basketball, a downward force is exerted on the ball, and it will travel in an arc as it approaches the rim. If you flip your wrist at the moment you release the ball, the ball will spin from bottom to top, as it moves through the air. This spinning motion is known as backspin . This is why coaches teach basketball players to shoot from the fingertips instead of from the palm. A fingertip shot automatically has backspin, and the ball is also easier to grip.

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Following through on a shot by flipping the wrist puts backspin on the ball.

CHAPTER 1 : FORCES THAT ACT ON A BASKETBALL

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Players definitely use backspin to increase their chances of having their shot hit “nothing but hoop” (going straight in without touching the rim). The wrist flip creates a difference in pressure and generates an upward force that counteracts the downward force of gravity. The result is that the flick of the wrist adds lift to the shot, and added lift means more range and an improved angle of entry to the hoop. Furthermore, when an object like a basketball spins and then bounces off another object like a backboard, the ball tends to bounce in the same direction of the spin. This means that that bounce will much more likely send the ball downward into the hoop. When players don’t put backspin on the ball, the ball usually bounces away from the hoop. What are the principles of physics behind backspin? The law of physics that governs backspin is called conservation of angular momentum . This law states that an object (the basketball) will keep spinning at the same rate after it leaves the fingertips of the shooter. A ball that isn’t spinning has one motion—the center of the ball moving through the air. Therefore, when the ball hits the rim, the collision slows down the basketball by taking away some of its energy. A spinning ball is the sum of two different motions. Not only is the center of the basketball moving through the air, but there is also motion caused by the ball spinning around its own center. When you add those motions (forces) together, the bottom of the ball moves faster than it would with no spin. In this shot, the collision of the bottom of the ball with the rim occurs with a greater speed because the ball has more friction, so there is more loss of energy, thus slowing the ball down. Is a slower ball a good thing? Yes, it is, because it is more likely to go into the hoop if it has less energy.

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Lift Lift also acts on a basketball. When you’re playing the game, the ball is surrounded by air. The air pressure below the ball pushes up harder than the air above the ball is pushing down. This is because air pressure increases with depth, so the air pressures are different at the top and bottom of the ball. The pressure differential creates upward buoyancy known as lift. You’ve likely seen or heard this concept demonstrated in fluid rather than air. It is known as Archimedes’ principle. Simply put, the magnitude of this buoyant force equals the weight of the fluid (air, in this example) that is displaced by the object (the basketball). In other words, the upward buoyant force (lift) exerted the weight of the air that is displaced by the ball. The basketball experiences an upward lift of about 1.5 percent of its weight, so it feels lighter because the air around the ball lifts it up. This video makes Archimedes’ principle simple to understand. KEY ICONS TO LOOK FOR: on the ball in the fluid (air) equals

Words To Understand: These words with their easy-to-understan he reader’s un erstanding of the ext while building vocabulary

Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows reader gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspective additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectiv Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our Q with additional educational content to supplement the text. Exa coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments,

Text-Dependent Questions: These questions send the reader ba careful attention to the evidence presented there.

Research Projects: Readers are pointed toward areas of further i chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage de

Series Glossary Of Key Terms: This back-of-the-book glossary c used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reade comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

CHAPTER 1 : FORCES THAT ACT ON A BASKETBALL

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Drag pushes the ball down as it travels through the air.

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Friction We’ve already talked about two forces that act on the ball— gravity and lift. Gravity pulls the ball down toward the ground as it is in flight. Friction creates the drag force on the ball. Friction occurs as two surfaces (the ball and the air) make contact with each other. As the basketball comes into contact with the air, drag forces act opposite to the ball’s motion and slow it down. Drag is the force of the air pushing on the ball as it travels in flight. Think of drag as air friction. The air around the ball helps slow it down. Remember Newton’s Second Law, the law of inertia, which states that an object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted on by an unbalanced force. Magnus Force In addition to gravity, lift, and friction, a fourth, more subtle, force also acts on the basketball. It’s called the Magnus force, and it happens when the ball is spinning. The force is named for German physicist Gustav Magnus, who first described the spinning effect in 1852. Magnus witnessed cannonballs and bullets flying through the air and wondered why these objects deflected (curved) toward one side or the other rather than traveling in a straight path.

CHAPTER 1 : FORCES THAT ACT ON A BASKETBALL

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Words To Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions w the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills.

Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowl gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving t additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, provid with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include n coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much mor

Who Was Gustav Magnus? Magnus was a noteworthy German scientist. He was formally trained in chemistry but later in life, his r search was mo tly in physics. Most of his career was spent at the University of Berlin. He was a popular laboratory teacher, and he cranked out original rese ch throughout is lifetim . In all, he published eighty-four papers on topics ranging from chemical acids to thermoelectricity. He even published a paper on the absorption of gases in the blood. He had a reputation in Germany as a leading scientist, so the German government asked him to introduce the uniform metric system across all of Germany.

Text-Dependent Questions: These questions send the reader back to the text f careful attention to the evidence presented there.

Research Projects: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connect chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research

Series Glossary Of Key Terms: This back-of-the-book glossary contains termino used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to re comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

Good question! Why does a

spinning basketball sometimes deflect along its path? Why doesn’t the ball travel in a logical forward motion? Magnus figured out that objects like cannonballs deflect when they’re shot from a cannon because the cannonball experiences uneven

Magnus observed uneven friction and its effects on cannonballs, the same effect that applies to basketballs.

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