Question

Pick a sport or physical activity and name it. Use the Work-Energy Relationship to describe a situation when you would do work to increase energy, or when you would do work to decrease (absorb) energy. From the lecture, we discussed how pole vault pit pads absorb the energy of the pole vaulter’s landing and increase the distance over which that force is applied (pole vaulter lands and the pit pad deforms and depresses, slowing them down). (Do not use examples from lecture like pole vault pit, long jump sand, or boxing gloves – find a new one!)

Answer 1

Most of the sports have simple physics applied in it. Let us consider an example of my favourite sports called cricket.

We know energy and momentum are related by a simple expression as

More the energy, more is the momentum.

The base of the bat with which the ball is hit, is thicker at the end, in order to provide more momentum i.e more energy to the ball. This will lead to greater distance travelled by the ball. Hence more runs scored.

Also, in order to avoid any injury during catching of ball, the player pulls his hand gradually with the moving ball(shown in figure), so that more time is available for the ball to come to rest. Hence energy is absorbed, not suddenly but gradually to avoid injury