Newtons laws
2nd
3rd
Situations occurring as the golfer swings and hits the ball
1. When the golf ball is sitting on the tee, it does not fall off.
2. When the golf club is swung by the golfer to hit the ball, the club experiences an
unbalanced force, from the golfer's arms, which produces a change in the club's
velocity - it is now accelerating towards the ball.
3. As the golf club hits the ball, it is at its maximum acceleration (Mass of club head
x Acceleration of club head = F on the club head).
4. As the golf club hits the ball, it applies its force to the ball, accelerating the ball
until the golf ball leaves the club. The golf ball is experiencing a change in
velocity - it is accelerating. The greater the force applied to the golf ball the
greater the acceleration.
5. As the golf club hits the ball, it applies force causing the ball to go in motion. In
return, the ball also applies an equal and opposite force back to the club. This
force slows the golf club down.
6. The golf ball moves away from the golf club at a greater velocity than the club
head because the club head has a much greater mass than the golf ball.
7. Once the golf ball is in motion in the air, its horizontal velocity remains the same
(constant); its vertical velocity is acted on by gravity.
1st
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