Volleyball Investigation

• Newton's 1st Law of Motion

  (Law of inertia) a body continues in it’s state of rest or state of motion unless acted on by a force.
• Newton's 2nd Law of Motion

  (Law of acceleration) the acceleration of a body is proportional to the force applied to it and inversely proportional to the mass of the object.
• Newton's 3rd Law of motion

  (Law of action-reaction) for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
• Moment of Inertia 


  is a body’s reluctance when rotated. Affected by lever length, mass and distribution of mass about the axis of rotation.
• Inertia 


  a body's resistance to motion
• Radius of motion 


  the length from the axis of rotation to the outer edge of the object being rotated
• Angular Velocity


  how fast an object rotates around an axis
• Impulse 


  the production of force and the time over which it is applied, changing the momentum of an object. Force x time
• Optimal projection


  the ideal trajectory of a body in relation to the specific activity.
• Trajectory 


  the flight path of an object when released into the air. Can be high, parabolic or flat.
• Force 


  any pushing or pulling activity that tends to alter the state of motion of a body. F = MA
• Which of Newton's laws most apply to a Serve?

  1, 2
• Which of Newton's laws most apply to a Set

  2, 3
• Which of Newton's laws most apply to a Forearm Pass (Dig)

  1, 3
• Which of Newton's laws most apply to a spike?

  1, 2
• Which of Newton's laws most apply to a block?

  1, 3
• What is the first law of Newton's motion as it applies to volleyball serving?

  The ball will remain at rest until acted upon by force.
• In volleyball serving, what acts as the axis of rotation?


  The shoulder acts as the axis of rotation.
• How does the position of mass (hand) relative to the axis of rotation (shoulder) affect inertia during a volleyball serve?

  If the mass is closer to the axis of rotation, inertia decreases; if further away, inertia increases.
• What happens to angular velocity when inertia decreases during a volleyball serve?

  Angular velocity increases, causing the ball to accelerate faster.
• How does bending the elbow during a volleyball serve affect the moment of inertia?

  Bending the elbow reduces the moment of inertia, increasing angular velocity.
• What is the optimal projection angle for a volleyball serve to achieve the best height and distance?

  The optimal projection angle is usually around 45 degrees.
• What does the first law of motion state regarding the ball during a volleyball set?

  The ball will maintain its current motion until the setter applies force to change its direction.
• What effect does the setter's force have on the ball during a set?

  The force from the setter's hands causes the ball to accelerate in the direction of the force.
• What is the third law of motion as it applies to setting a volleyball?

  When you set the volleyball, you apply a force to the ball, and in response, the ball exerts an equal and opposite force back on your hands.
• How does a smooth, quick motion in the setter's wrists affect the moment of inertia?

  A smooth, quick motion reduces moment of inertia, leading to a more controlled, faster set.
• What is the optimal flight angle for a volleyball set to send the ball quickly to the spiker?

  The optimal flight angle is typically low to send the ball quickly toward the spiker while still clearing the net.
• What does the first law of motion state regarding the ball during a forearm pass (dig)?

  The ball will continue its current path unless a force is applied by the player's arm to redirect the ball.
• How does the force applied by the player's arms during a dig affect the ball?

  The amount of force applied will determine how much you accelerate (or decelerate) the ball.
• What is the third law of motion as it applies to a forearm pass (dig)?

  There is an equal and opposite force between the ball and arms, allowing the ball to be propelled back into the air.
• How does minimizing the moment of inertia in the arms aid in digging?

  Positioning the arms to minimize moment of inertia allows quicker responses to the ball’s movement, aiding in more efficient digging.
• What is the goal when projecting the ball during a forearm pass (dig)?

  The player must aim to project the ball at a low-to-moderate angle to send it to the setter accurately while maintaining ball control.
• What does the first law of motion state regarding the ball during a spike?

  The ball remains in motion until struck by the player's hand.
• How does the force applied during a spike affect the ball's acceleration?

  The more force you apply to the ball, the more acceleration the ball will have.
• How does bending at the elbow and using shoulder rotation affect the moment of inertia during a spike?

  Bending at the elbow and using shoulder rotation decreases the moment of inertia, increasing angular velocity for a faster spike.
• What is the effect of applying a large force over a brief contact time during a spike?

  A large force applied over a brief contact time increases the impulse, sending the ball rapidly toward the opponent’s court.
• At what angle should the ball be hit during a spike to maximize speed and accuracy?

  The ball should be hit at a downward angle to maximize speed and accuracy over the net.
• What does the first law of motion state regarding the ball during a block?

  The ball will continue its path unless a force is applied to redirect it.
• 3 things to change for optimal projection:

  Height of release

  Velocity of release

  Angle of release
• What is the third law of motion as it applies to blocking?


  The ball exerts force back on the blockers’ hands.