Forces
Forces are seen all throughout ultimate frisbee. Different forces effect different parts of the game. "A force is a push or pull upon an object resulting from the object's interaction with another object. Whenever there is an interaction between two objects, there is a force upon each of the objects. When the interaction ceases, the two objects no longer experience the force. Forces only exist as a result of an interaction" (Physics Classroom,2014). Therefore to put into simpler terms forces rely on objects interacting with each other. In frisbee this could relate to coming in connect when catching the frisbee or throwing the frisbee. It could also be coming into connect with another player when battling for possession of the frisbee. Ultimate frisbee is made up of a lot of forces covering all three of Newtons Laws.
Newtons first law
Newtons first law is used throughout ultimate frisbee as when a frisbee is thrown it has constant velocity. Therefore when an unbalanced force touches or moves it, in this case the wind, it will stay moving because as Newton says, an object at constant velocity when hit with an unbalanced force will stay moving.
As you can see from the video when the wind takes force and pushes the frisbee to the left, because the frisbee has constant velocity the frisbee stays moving but changes its path or direction. The frisbee will keep moving until something stops it from moving. This could be when someone grabs a hold of the frisbee (catches it) or when the frisbee lands on the ground and now the force of friction is applied. If the force of friction is stronger than the force applied by the frisbee it will cause the frisbee to stop moving. This is important to know as a frisbee player because when playing the game, you know how to interfere with the other teams passes. It gives you the advantage by knowing that the frisbee has constant velocity therefore if you want to catch or stop the other team from making a pass you know that you can knock it down to the grass, where it will be forced to slow down or by catching it. This law also works for your team as well. If you have a teammate that is passing to you but you see another teammate open, if you don't have enough time to catch and then throw the frisbee you can deflect it to your teammate. As long as you deflected it at the right angle with the right amount of force it will reach her, because as Newton says an object in motion with constant velocity stays in motion when touched by an unbalanced force.
Newtons Second LAw
Newtons second law states that when you throw a frisbee with twice the amount of force it will have twice the amount of acceleration, and when you have a mass twice as heavy the acceleration will be half as fast (2 x Fnet = 2 x a ; 2 x m= 1/2 x a) . Newtons second law is seen throughout ultimate frisbee as it involves an individual to apply more force on a heavier frisbee to create the same acceleration on a lighter frisbee. It also involves frisbee players to understand that when they apply more force to a frisbee it will have a greater acceleration. Sometimes when practicing players will use a heavier frisbee they must understand that in order to keep the acceleration the same they must apply more net force or else the acceleration will be slower.
Below we look at how changing the mass of a frisbee affects the acceleration time when the force applied to the frisbee stays the same:
Below we look at how changing the mass of a frisbee affects the acceleration time when the force applied to the frisbee stays the same:
As you can see from the images above, when the male threw the 0.72kg frisbee with the same force his acceleration was faster than when he threw the 0.85kg. When a heavier mass is thrown with the same force as a lighter object the acceleration will be slower. This is due to Newton’s second law that states when a mass is doubled the acceleration is halved. Therefore if we times the 0.72kg frisbee by two and made it 1.44kg then the acceleration, if Newton’s law is correct, should be half the acceleration of the 0.72kg frisbee.
I was able to calculate these two acceleration because I knew both masses of different frisbees thrown, as I weighed them when collecting my data. I also knew the Net Force as I had calculated it when preparing my Free Body Diagrams seen further down the page.
A lot of the times Ultimate frisbee athletes will practice with heavier frisbees as it allows their wrist to become stronger and their mindset to think they need to throw the frisbee harder than they actually do. When they go into games and use the lighter frisbee, they can now throw the frisbees harder, faster and further.
I was able to calculate these two acceleration because I knew both masses of different frisbees thrown, as I weighed them when collecting my data. I also knew the Net Force as I had calculated it when preparing my Free Body Diagrams seen further down the page.
A lot of the times Ultimate frisbee athletes will practice with heavier frisbees as it allows their wrist to become stronger and their mindset to think they need to throw the frisbee harder than they actually do. When they go into games and use the lighter frisbee, they can now throw the frisbees harder, faster and further.
Newtons Third LAw
Newtons third law is shown in ultimate frisbee, every time a frisbee is thrown, caught, jumped for, landed with or when two individuals make contact, fighting for the frisbee. Newtons third law states that every action force has a reaction force, meaning that whatever force you apply to an object will be applied back on you. For example when someone jumps for a frisbee, the force he/she applies to the ground with to be able to get power jump up, the ground will apply back on his legs.
When the frisbee is caught by the person the force the he catches the frisbee with will be the same force the frisbee will apply on the individuals hands.
And lastly, when the person re-lands on the ground, the force he lands on the ground with, the ground will apply the same force back to him.
Newton’s Third law is important for frisbee players to understand as a lot of the times whoever applies the most force will win the battle. For example when you and an opponent both jump for a frisbee in the air at the same time, the person that applies more force to the ground will jump higher and faster (Newtons second law) therefore obtaining possession of the frisbee.
Tip: when battling during a game make sure you always apply as much force as you can, in order to get the advantage.
Tip: when battling during a game make sure you always apply as much force as you can, in order to get the advantage.
Free Body diagrams
Below are examples of what forces are acting on a frisbee before and after it leaves a players hand: