Physics of Sports (Semester I)
Seen above is the our final video for the Sports Physics video project. In the beginning, we ambitiously chose to study the physics behind a bike jump. So much for mainstream: that was our intention. I must say, after numerous hours and numerous minor edits, I think we have succeeded, at least to an extent. Most of the video footage was either taken from Dalton's (Bike Rider in the video) phone or was downloaded from Red Bull Mountain biking.
Before we could begin, however, we had to study the forces behind projectiles (flying bikes). Most of the relevant elements had already been covered in the Rube Goldberg project (See Grade IX: Rube Goldberg Machine). One new topic we covered, though, were vectors. When there are two forces working on an object in different directions, the path the object takes is called a vector. Say for example, there is a tennis ball. It's momentum is pushing it forward with a force of x Newtons. It is struck with a racket with a force of y Newtons. If y is greater than x, then the ball will travel in the direction of force y with a force of y-x Newtons. Another thing we learned is that Horizontal motion and Vertical motion are completely independent of each other. Myth: A bullet fired exactly horizontally and a bulled dropped from the same height will hit the ground at the exactly the same time. This is completely true. A projectiles acceleration due to gravity has no effect on the object's horizontal velocity. Both aspects were usefull to us, as the bike is considered a projectile as it leaves the ramp.
In the beginning of the project, our group thought it would be rather easy to demonstrate the physics at work behind a bike jump. False. As it turns out, flying bicycles are somewhat difficult to measure, much less to measure accurately. Luckily, however, Dalton had all of the relevant measurements, both for his bike and for the dirt jump (they were his, after all). From this, we simply used his measurements and videos (one of which was used in our final video) to gather the data we needed. Perhaps when we realized that our chosen topic would be a difficult one, we should have switched to something a little more research-friendly.
Before we could begin, however, we had to study the forces behind projectiles (flying bikes). Most of the relevant elements had already been covered in the Rube Goldberg project (See Grade IX: Rube Goldberg Machine). One new topic we covered, though, were vectors. When there are two forces working on an object in different directions, the path the object takes is called a vector. Say for example, there is a tennis ball. It's momentum is pushing it forward with a force of x Newtons. It is struck with a racket with a force of y Newtons. If y is greater than x, then the ball will travel in the direction of force y with a force of y-x Newtons. Another thing we learned is that Horizontal motion and Vertical motion are completely independent of each other. Myth: A bullet fired exactly horizontally and a bulled dropped from the same height will hit the ground at the exactly the same time. This is completely true. A projectiles acceleration due to gravity has no effect on the object's horizontal velocity. Both aspects were usefull to us, as the bike is considered a projectile as it leaves the ramp.
In the beginning of the project, our group thought it would be rather easy to demonstrate the physics at work behind a bike jump. False. As it turns out, flying bicycles are somewhat difficult to measure, much less to measure accurately. Luckily, however, Dalton had all of the relevant measurements, both for his bike and for the dirt jump (they were his, after all). From this, we simply used his measurements and videos (one of which was used in our final video) to gather the data we needed. Perhaps when we realized that our chosen topic would be a difficult one, we should have switched to something a little more research-friendly.