The skinny |
From the info gathered, lets try to answer our initial question, can Newtons Laws be used to optimize a volleyball serve? |
Of course it can! Understanding the physics behind a volleyball serve can help a player be more effective, even safer. Looking at volleyball through the lens of physics, it can be seen that the force applied to the ball by the server is crucial due to Newtons second Law. Don't understand why the ball is going out every time? Maybe you need to apply less force, in turn decreasing the balls acceleration and total distance traveled. Physics offers an explanation for the "knuckling" effect of a float serve. Since there is no force due to spin, the only forces acting on the ball in the air after the initial hit are gravity, pulling the ball downwards, and air resistance, which buffets the ball back and forth. While this serve will spend more time in the air than will a jump serve, the applied physics make it difficult to return. Physics clearly demonstrates the positive effects of topspin for a volleyball serve. Applied topspin will lessen the time the ball spends in the air, making it more difficult for opponents to return. The proper combination of force and topspin can turn a jump serve into a lethal weapon. The direction the ball is hit in is also important. A ball hit in a relatively straight line above the net will reach its destination much faster than will a high arcing serve. A high arcing ball will experience more air resistance on its journey over the net, and this opposing force will slow the ball down considerably, making the ball easier to return. For their own safety, it is important for volleyball players to remember Newtons third Law. Broken, bruised, dislocated and jammed fingers are a frequent occurrence in volleyball because players forcefully strike the ball, forgetting it strikes back. Proper hand position thus is crucial to avoiding the repercussions of Newtons third Law. For an extremely detailed explanation as to the math behind the creation of the optimal volleyball serve, check out this study done by scientists and mathematicians from Hope College and Case Western Reserve University.