Soccer Physics from Sheffield

John Eric Goff

Lynchburg College

CS-AAPT Fall 2009George Mason UniversityOctober 10, 2009

Sabbatical Across the Pond• 6000 km from Lynchburg• 53.4 N , -1.47 W• The University of Sheffield

(25,600 students)

Collaborative Research

• Associate Visiting Staff• Department of Mechanical

Engineering• Member of Matt Carré’s

Sports Engineering Research Group

Eric and Matt

Trajectory Analysis of a Soccer Ball

)ˆˆ(2

1

ˆ2

1

)ˆ(2

1

2

2

2

vCAvF

CAvF

vCAvF

gmF

SS

LL

DD

g

bmg 94.0N2.4

ForcefromAir

Aerodynamic Coefficientsfrom Wind Tunnels

Aerodynamic Coefficientsfrom Wind Tunnels

Drag

Re = vD/

Aerodynamic Coefficientsfrom Wind Tunnels

Lift

Sp = r/v

Our Trajectory Experiments

High-Speed Cameras Record Trajectory

No Spin – Find CD

CameraData

No Spin – Find CD

RangeSensitivity?

No Spin – Find CD

RangeSensitivity?

Drag Coefficient

Drag

Drag Coefficient

Drag

Drag Coefficient

Drag

Lift Coefficient

Lift

Lift Coefficient

Lift

Lift Coefficient

Lift

What’s Next?

DustExperiments

Further Reading

Coming soon to AJP: “Trajectory analysis of a soccer ball” by John Eric Goff and Matt J. Carré

Gold Medal Physics: The Science of Sports by John Eric Goff

Just in timefor Christmas!

Thanks!

People:• Matt Carré• Sarah Tomlinson• James Clarke• Nick Emerson

Money:• Bridging the Gaps Fellowship• Lynchburg College Dean’s

Office• 2008 Mednick Award (VFIC)• 2009 Huston Award (LC)

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