FEBRUARY 24, 2014 BY JAMESDOBSON645

Projectile Motion on a badminton smash

1. What is projectile motion?

Projectile motion is a type of motion where an object (called a projectile) is thrown, and in this situation
the object (being the shuttlecock) makes contact with the racket. It moves along a curved path under
the force of gravity. When there is one force applied at the beginning of the trajectory (by the
badminton player), projectile motion only occurs, after which the only force acting is gravity.

2. What are 3 ways a projectile can be released into the air?

A shuttlecock (projectile) being thrown into the air by hand.

A shuttle cock (projectile) making contact with the mesh of the badminton racket and accelerating into
the air.

In archery an arrow (projectile) can be released by drawing back the string of the bow and releasing.

3.Two factors that influence the trajectory

The velocity of the projectile as it is released will influence the trajectory. For example, the higher the
velocity of the shuttlecock as it is hit, the longer the trajectory will be, meaning there will be a higher
chance of it travelling over the net from the back area of the court.

The angle in which the projectile is released will influence the trajectory. For example. if the shuttlecock
is hit at a 45 degree angle (in circumstances of the player’s arm flexing) it’s trajectory (path) will be at a
great height, where as if it was released at a 105 degree angle (where the badminton player’s arm is at a
significant extension) the shuttlecock’s trajectory will be at a rather low height.

4. What factors can have an effect on the angle of release?

Due to the shape of the shuttlecock, with a blunt end to the essential area of contact (the heaviest part
of the object) and its rear cone-like shape, the aerodynamics of the object will be a factor that has an
affect on the angle of release. This is because, during the final process of the projectile being in motion
after it is hit (proceeding towards the apposing player), there is a significant drop in the object due to
the pull of gravity on the heavy part of the shuttlecock, because of it’s aerodynamic structure (as
described previously). This means, the angle of release will vary in circumstances of the drop within the
motion of the projectile. For example, during a badminton smash, the badminton player will need to
take in to consideration of how large the angle will be of his/her release, due to the notable drop from
the aerodynamics of the object; therefore it will most likely have to be an obtuse angle applied during
the contact (where the racket arm will be extended, with the tricep as the agonist and the antagonist as
the bicep) in order for the opponent to struggle with a return at such a low height. Another factor that
can have an effect on the angle of release is the height of release, as the higher the angle of release (due
to the height of projectile of the object), the larger the angle of release will need to be. This is because
the badminton player will need to adjust the flexing or extending of their arm, depending on how high
or low the release of the projectile will have to be. For example, if the shuttlecock comes at a rather low
position for the player to reach, he may have to contract their angle of release

5. What four factors influence the projectile in the air?

Gravity is one of the 4 factors that influence a projectile in the air as it is the pull of the mass of the Earth
on the travelling object. This means that it accelerates the object in the air towards Earth’s center,
meaning that the acceleration created by the force of gravity is straight down and can be measured as
9.8 meters per second, per second (in circumstances of acceleration). For example during the trajectory
of a shuttlecock in the air, gravity is the only force (other than friction) which acts upon the shuttlecock,
pulling it towards the ground at the ending point of the time it is in the air (once it has reached over the
net preferably).

Another factor that influences the projectile in the air is the aerodynamics of the object. This is because,
during the projectiles path, the specific shape of the object will affect the trajectory, due to the
aerodynamics involved in the process of it’s flight. For example, the shape of the shuttlecock has a rear
cone-like shape that is very light, along with a blunt end to the essential area of contact (the heaviest
part of the object). Therefore; the aerodynamics of the object will be a factor that affects this projectile
as it will have an off balanced weight to it, where gravity will obviously pull the heavier part of the
shuttlecock.