Football Physics

It was the fourth quarter with only 12 seconds on the clock. Patriots were down 21-17 and had used their last timeout. The team broke the huddle and headed for their positions. Tom Brady, the Patriots’ quarter back, stepped up behind the center, this was there last chance. “Blue thirty-two! Blue thirty-two! Set…HIKE!” He stepped back into the pocket, looked for the open man, and fired. The ball flew from his hand, and seemed to float in mid-air when it fell right into the waiting hands of Randy Moss. “I don’t believe it! The Patriots have done it again folks! Another come-from-behind win for Tom Brady.” How does he do it? Without an in-depth knowledge of physics, Tom could never be considered as good as he is. By studying objects in motion, average speed, friction, and Newton’s Laws of Motion, the role of physics in football becomes evident.

The very first rules for American football were invented in 1876 at the Massasoit convention. Walter Camp, commonly known as the father of football, revolutionized the game by convincing the IFA (Intercollegiate Football Association) to change a series of rules to create the game very similar to the one we play today (“Football History”). Football has had some changes since Walter Camp was involved with it. First of all, the point values have been changed. Touchdowns have been changed from four to six points, and field goals have been changed from five points to three. The playing field has changed as well. Hash marks have been placed 15 yards from either sideline, and the goalposts have been moved from the front of the end zone to the back. Also, the equipment has changed. Helmets have gone from leather caps to metal helmets. The present-time National Football League (NFL) has shoulder pads; early on, no one wore shoulder pads at all. Also, today’s football players wear cleats (spiked shoes) instead of regular shoes. From these changes we notice that football as a franchise is open to change for the better.

In football there are many things in motion. There is the football (a major focal point of the game), which moves to where the next play will start; there is the running back, who tries to get a touchdown by running with the ball; there is the quarter back, who tries to gain yards by throwing the ball to his receivers who try to catch it and run, making them an object in motion as well. There are also the offensive and defensive linemen, the defensive backs and line backers, who cover receivers and tackle offensive players to stop them from making a first down. Football is played with two teams, both trying to score the most points. Touchdowns are worth six points with an extra point if they make a short-distance field goal, two if they get in to the end zone again from two and a half yards away. If a team fails to get a first down or a touchdown in three tries, they can attempt a field goal for three points, attempt to get the first down (if they fail the other team gets the ball where the other team stopped), or punt it so the other team has to go farther to get a touchdown. If a team gets a touchdown, they have to kickoff. There are two types of kickoffs commonly used; a regular kick (a deep kick), or an onside kick where the kicking team tries to recover the ball. Motion brings the excitement for the players and definitely to the spectators in the stands.

One of the most important skills a player needs is speed. The two things needed to find someone’s average speed is distance and time. To find this out, scouts measure people’s speed in the 40 yard dash (about 36.576 meters). So, they divide the person’s distance ran by the time. For example, Julio ran the 40 yard dash in 5.84 seconds. So, divide 36.576m by 5.84s (metric system), and Julio’s speed was 6.26 meters per second (about 14 miles per hour). This is helped by their clothing which is lightweight and aerodynamic. Athletes control their speed by putting more or less effort into the moving of their muscles and by increasing or decreasing friction.

Friction plays an extremely important role in football. Friction is the rubbing of the surface of one body against that of another. Friction is desirable while an athlete is running, catching, and throwing. Ways an athlete could increase friction would be wide receiver/ quarter back/ running back gloves to keep better hold on the football, and cleats to keep hold on the field and not fall. But friction can be undesirable too. Offensive players want less friction with the defenders so they can slip out of tackles, and special team players want less friction with the ground enabling them to run back a kickoff return. Ways an athlete could decrease friction would be to wax his equipment so he could have less friction with the defensive players, and run on his toes so that he would have less friction with the ground and less of his energy would be converted to heat, resulting in more speed. But even friction can’t stop Newton’s Laws of Motion.

Every being on the planet follows Newton’s Laws of Motion, even football players. Newton’s First Law of Motion states, “An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an unbalanced force. An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force” (Newton’s Laws). An example of how Newton’s First Law of Motion applies to football would be the football. As the projectile is lofted into the air it is acted upon by the air resistance and gravity resulting in slower speed and eventually grounding. If there is no air resistance and gravity the football will fly forever.

Newton’s Second Law of Motion is also important in football. Newton’s Second Law of Motion states, “Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass. The greater the mass (of the object being accelerated) the greater the amount of force needed (to accelerate the object)” (Newton’s Laws). An example of how Newton’s Second Law of Motion applies to football would be the offensive linemen. They have to block the defensive linemen. In order to push them backwards, they have to push harder if the defensive lineman is bigger. Newton’s Second Law of Motion applies to football every time someone pushes on something. More force from the muscle bound linemen is needed when the mass of the huge defenders is bigger. The bigger they are the more force is needed.

Newton’s Third Law of Motion plays an important role in football. Newton’s Third Law of Motion states, “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction” (Newton’s Laws). An example of how Newton’s Third Law of Motion applies to this game would be when a defender sprints to sack the quarter back. He digs his feet into the ground and pushes the ground with all his might, which pushes him forward with the same amount of force toward the quarter back. Newton’s Third Law of Motion applies to every time someone runs.

Football is a sport played and loved by many nationwide. Physics plays an important role in the sport and can be understood through the study of objects in motion, average speed, friction, and Newton’s Laws of Motion. So next time that football is picked up, remember the physics!