Classroom Questions

Questions for “Researchers reveal the secret to the perfect football throw”

a kid throwing a football

Scientists use math and physics to figure out why the tip of a spiraling football follows the ball’s path.

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By Science News Explores

To accompany feature “Researchers reveal the secret to the perfect football throw”

SCIENCE

Before Reading:

1. What is a spiral pass in football? How does gravity impact a thrown football?

2. What is a gyroscope? What is an axis? How are the two related?

During Reading:

1. In what direction does a football’s axis spin when it leaves the quarterback’s hand?

2. In what direction does a football’s axis spin when a receiver catches the pass?

3. What is a trajectory?

4. What is the definition of gyroscopics? How does it relate to a spinning top?

5. With a perfectly thrown spiral pass, in which direction does the tip of the ball tilt?    

6. What happens to the ball’s spin axis as gravity forces it downward? 

7. How does a perfectly thrown spiral respond to the force of air pushing against the front of the ball?

8. What type of arc does a thrown football make?

After Reading:

1. If a quarterback throws a football with a lot of spin, what happens to the stability of the thrown ball? Does it increase or decrease? Will the pass be more accurate than a football thrown with less spin? Why or why not?

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