(SF) Sports: Forces Module Overview

Sports: Forces Module Overview

Sports are all about forces. The best athletes in the world are the ones who have the ability to control forces and use them to their advantage. In this lesson you will learn how the use of force allows a linebacker to tackle a running back in a football game, a shooting guard to take to the air and dunk the ball in a basketball game, a forward to kick the winning goal in a soccer match, or for a center to shoot a slap shot to fire the puck into the goal during a hockey game. Every sport has its own athletic requirements and skill sets. No matter the sport, the mastery of forces is required. Forces are all around us. We will see how forces have shaped many of the games that we watch and play. We will learn how athletes use forces to become the best at their position.

Essential Questions

  • How do you know if you are moving?
  • What is the relationship between velocity and acceleration?
  • How do simple machines contribute to the operation of a bicycle, car engine or a washing machine?
  • Why does an astronaut's weight on the moon differ from its weight on Earth?

Key Terms

 

Formulas to Know
Concept Formula in Words Equation
Acceleration Acceleration is equal to change in velocity divided by change in time acceleration = LaTeX: \frac{\Delta velocity}{{\Delta time}}ΔvelocityΔtime 
Force Force is equal to Mass times Acceleration LaTeX: F=MAF=MA
Speed Speed is equal to change in distance divided by change in time speed= LaTeX: \frac{\Delta distance}{{\Delta time}}ΔdistanceΔtime 
Weight Weight is equal to Mass times Gravity LaTeX: W=MGW=MG
Velocity Velocity is equal to change in distance divided by change in time and direction velocity= LaTeX: \frac{\Delta distance}{{\Delta time and direction}}ΔdistanceΔtimeanddirection 

LaTeX: \DeltaΔ (Delta) is a Greek Letter which means "change in"

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