Physics Around Campus
By Kelly Laird
Physics 102
Spring 2015
There have been many forms of soccer in the history of the world with records indicating games similar to it dating as far back as the second and third century. The game as we know it today is relatively young and became a sport when in 1863 a group in England decided to branch off from the rugby association and form a new version of football. Since then soccer has grown into the world’s most popular sport with approximately 3.5 billion fans watching the athletes perform at a top level. There are many plays in soccer that create enthusiasm and excitement in the crowd but none quite like a free kick scoring. One …show more content…
It also states that the direction of the acceleration is the same as the direction of the net force acting on it. The acceleration is a rate of change of the velocity of the ball. The higher the acceleration of the ball the less time it will take for the ball to speed up allowing it to travel a further distance and causing it to have a higher velocity when it reaches its destination. This law is represented by the equation Fnet=m x a. Looking at this equation we can see how a soccer player would be able to change the acceleration of the ball based on the amount of force they kicked it with. Changing this acceleration would affect the direction and speed of the ball and so players must carefully choose the amount of force they use when kicking a ball in order to get the right amount of acceleration that will give their teammates the best chance of getting the ball at their feet. In the photo above the ball was initially at rest on the corner and the amount of force placed on it by the kickers leg is what drove it to the position it is at in the picture. In order to get the ball into the back of the net the Gonzaga player in the air is trying to apply a force with his head to change the course of the ball by …show more content…
In the photo above this law will be relevant when the ball makes contact with the kicker foot and either the Gonzaga players head or the goal keeps hands. The amount of force directed onto the ball by the players will be redirected onto the players as well. The results of this law of motion can be dangerous to players especially the one heading the ball because if he heads the ball on the wrong part of head or with too much force he risks redirecting that force onto his own body and possibly concussing