Forces and Shot Put

What are the forces acting on a shot put ball being thrown in mid-air?

Since we are studying projectile motion and forces, we can apply what we have learned to this question. We have found that force of gravity, air resistance, and acceleration all play a role to a flying object. Force of gravity affects the object vertically while force of air resistance and acceleration may differ between how the object is being thrown. In fact, it will always change unlike force of gravity.

These forces affect everything we do, from walking to class to passing a pencil to a friend. In relation to everyday life, there is a clear connection to numerous kinds of sports. Projectile motion can be applied to any object due to the forces the players apply on it(a soccer player hitting a soccer ball with a force). By knowing these forces, it gives the player an advantage to know where the object might be later on. For example, from a player’s perspective, acquiring experience from becoming more intuitive with an objects motion will aid him or her in knowing how far the object might travel. The player will know how much force to apply on the object to score a goal. Of course the player cannot calculate the exact amount of force during a game so the player will have to use instinct and previous experience to estimate how much force to apply to the object.

Furthermore, there is a clear relationship between players and physicists. They both use physics in their profession. Physicists typically study and create physics theories while players apply those theories. In a way physicists will do the thinking and players will do the doing.

 But even though they both use physics there is a difference in what they get when they use it. Physicists study to know an objects projectile motion in order to create designs and drafts on possible machines and mechanisms we use for everyday life. While players use it so they can improve their chances of winning a game and to entertain the audience. The end result is really different but they both helped people. Physics can be used in a variety of ways but in the end it has helped people.

The history of the Olympics has incorporated many sports which involves forces and projectile motion. The physical training the athletes endure has a similarity to the real world. For our question which involves shock put, there is a connection to war and convenient actions. War can be seen as throwing objects; for instance, grenades while convenient actions can be easily throwing an object into the trashcan.

In terms of our experiences, there is an overlying gap of resemblance we can connect to. Simply playing sports with friends outside can be similar. Throwing a ball on a windy day can dictate where the ball will be due to the direction and how strong the force of the wind might be.