Passing the Football
One of the most important aspects of the game of football is passing. It may seem simple, but passing can be the hardest part of winning a game. It's not just about throwing a ball. It requires power, accuracy, and awareness. A pass happens when the quarterback of a football team snaps the ball and drops back, and throws the ball anywhere in front of the line of scrimmage. One of the best passers ever is Drew Brees (pictured above) who broke the record last season for the amount of yards passing in a season.
The Physics Behind Passing a Football
When a quarterback throws a football, the ball moves on a parabolic path through the air due to the pull of Fg (gravity) to the ground. As the ball moves up, the ball travels quickly at the beginning until gravity starts to slow it and pull it down at its peak height. Then, on the way towards the ground, gravity continues to pull the ball making it accelerate towards the ground. The complete process of throwing a football or any ballistic object is called projectile motion. This is the same process that a punter goes through when he punts the football.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/physics-of-football1.htm
http://www.howstuffworks.com/physics-of-football1.htm
Projectile Motion
Projectile motion is the motion of an object that is projected into the air at an angle. Examples of this are football, soccer, and even fireworks. By definition, a projectile only has one force acting on it, and that is gravity. Projectiles can be launched horizontally, vertically, and they have both horizontal velocity and vertical velocity.
To learn more about projectile motion, go to this link: http://library.thinkquest.org/2779/
To learn more about projectile motion, go to this link: http://library.thinkquest.org/2779/
Throwing the Spiral
Another important part of passing a football is throwing a spiral. A spiral is when the ball winds and spins in mid air. It is important for a quarterback to throw a spiral because the ball is more aerodynamic, making it so that less Fair (force air) acts on the ball. This means the ball can travel both further and faster. A spiral is performed by throwing the ball perfectly.
Steps to throwing a spiral: http://www.ehow.com/how_2294565_throw-spiral-football.html
Steps to throwing a spiral: http://www.ehow.com/how_2294565_throw-spiral-football.html
Cam Newton's Spiral Throwing Form
Drew Brees 2011-2012 Highlights
Free Online Football Game
Superstar Football Super Bowl Edition:
http://www.addictinggames.com/sports-games/superstarfootball.jsp
http://www.addictinggames.com/sports-games/superstarfootball.jsp
