Newton’s Third Law - CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Question

1. Correctly state Newton’s Third law of Motion in your own words.

2. What is the goal of an NFL Defender, and how would he use Newton’s Third Law to reach that goal?

3. How is momentum determined in football? Give the equation used, and explain it.

4. Explain the Law of Conservation of Momentum.

5. How does Newton’s Cradle explain momentum and how is this depicted by players in the game?

Answer 1

1. Newton’s Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that whenever one object exerts a force on another object, the second object exerts a force of equal magnitude but in the opposite direction back on the first object.

2. Goal of an NFL Defender: The primary goal of an NFL defender is to stop or tackle the offensive player with the ball, preventing them from advancing towards the end zone. To achieve this, the defender can leverage Newton’s Third Law by exerting a force on the ball carrier when making a tackle. As the defender collides with the ball carrier, the force of the tackle creates an equal and opposite reaction that impacts both players, potentially stopping or slowing down the offensive player's momentum.

3. Momentum in Football: Momentum in football is determined by the product of an object's mass and its velocity. The equation used is:

   \[ \text{Momentum (p)} = \text{Mass (m)} \times \text{Velocity (v)} \]

   This means that to calculate the momentum of a player, you multiply their weight (mass) by their speed (velocity) during the play. A player with a larger mass or a higher velocity will have greater momentum, which is significant in determining the outcome of collisions, tackles, and plays.

4. Law of Conservation of Momentum: The Law of Conservation of Momentum states that in a closed system, the total momentum before an event must equal the total momentum after the event, provided no external forces act on the system. In the context of football, when players collide, the momentum lost by one player is gained by another, illustrating that while individual momenta may change, the total momentum of the system remains constant.

5. Newton’s Cradle and Momentum in Football: Newton's Cradle is a device that illustrates the principle of conservation of momentum and energy through a series of swinging balls. When one ball is lifted and released, it strikes the next ball, transferring momentum in such a way that the ball on the opposite end swings out with an equal force. In football, players exhibit similar dynamics during tackles or collisions. When a defender meets an offensive player, the momentum from the running player is transferred upon impact, demonstrating how forces and momentum interact in the game. This transfer can determine the outcome of plays, as speed, mass, and angles of impact all play a critical role in how effectively a player can tackle or be tackled.