Learn Physics through Football: The Key to Understanding Newton’s Laws of Motion

by | September 13, 2024

It’s the time of year in Michigan when everyone is excited about leaves changing colors and cool evening temperatures. I love these things about living in the northern Midwest, but what really excites my family is football. We have been proud fans of the Detroit Lions for as long as I can remember—yes, even the 0-16 year-olds: football, nachos, a warm blanket, and Isaac Newton. Wait, physics?

A Lesson in Newton’s Laws

As a home educator or a schoolteacher, football provides some exciting and illustrative opportunities to teach the laws of physics to your children or students.  Imagine you’re sitting in your most comfortable recliner, you’ve got your snacks, the game is on TV, and your children are sitting around you dressed in their favorite team jerseys.  Everyone cheers as your team is winning, but then a commercial break comes on.  I really dislike commercial breaks, and I’d guess many of you do too.  But wait!

Before you get up to grab some more snacks or take a bathroom break, why not discuss or teach some essential laws of physics that everyone just witnessed in the game?  How can we subtly slide Isaac Newton into the conversation?  

A football player in full uniform is captured mid-action as they kick a football. The player's left leg is extended, and the focus is primarily on the football and the player's kicking foot, which is equipped with cleats. The background shows a blurred field.

Newton’s First Law of Motion: The Kicker

The kicker on the team provides an excellent example of Newton’s First Law of Motion: an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will stay in motion in the direction of movement unless acted upon by an external force.  The ball sits on the ground, not moving, and then a player picks up the ball and tosses it to the kicker behind him, who catches it in his hand, returning it to a temporary second of rest. 

  • The ball was at rest.
  • It was put into motion in a direction.
  • Then, the kicker’s hands acted upon the ball, stopping it. 

With his foot, the kicker holds the ball at rest and then puts it back into motion in the direction of the field goals.  The kicker’s foot is the force that puts the ball back into motion. If no one stops it, would it keep flying into the space and beyond? 

According to Newton’s Law, yes, unless an outside force acted upon it.  The force of gravity acts upon the ball, returning it to the ground, where it stops and returns to rest.  

We can make the same point about the running back who takes off running with the ball until suddenly he’s acted upon by a strong force of another player, who stops his motion.

A football player wearing a green and white uniform with a helmet stands on a grassy field ready to throw a football. The sun is setting, casting a golden light over the scene with a city skyline visible in the distance. Another football lies on the ground nearby.

Newton’s Second Law of Motion: Kicking and Throwing a Football

You can bring up (but only during a commercial!) Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion when you discuss kicking or throwing a football. Coaches and kickers can figure out how much force to use to kick a ball using this formula:

force = mass x acceleration. 

A regulation football has a mass of .42 kilograms; if it is kicked with the force of 25 Newtons, the ball will accelerate at 10.5 meters a second.  That’s flying fast! So, let’s imagine the kicker is about to kick the ball, hopefully with just enough force for it to land a few yards before the end zone, rolling to a stop at the 1-yard line and forcing the other team to start there. 

Through a lot of practice, a professional kicker knows exactly how hard (force) to kick the ball to get it to the spot where he wants it to land.  Ask your student if they think an indoor stadium versus an outdoor stadium might affect this (back to the 1st Law!).

Three football players in black and yellow uniforms tackle a player in a white and blue uniform on a grassy field. The tackled player is holding the ball tightly as the others converge on him. The action is intense, with visible motion and determination.

Newton’s Third Law of Motion: The Quarterback Sack

My husband’s favorite of Newton’s Laws is Newton’s third law of motion, specifically pertaining to a quarterback sack.  This law of motion explains that for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction.  In a quarterback sack, the quarterback is often standing still, using his own force to stay upright, trying to see where he can throw the ball, when suddenly a very large player comes running at him, tackling him and forcing him to the ground.  

While the quarterback exerts a force back, the action of the large defensive end brings more force than the quarterback can exert to stand and causes the quarterback in an opposite direction, down onto the ground. 

Can you imagine if the quarterback exerted an equal and opposite force?  Nothing would happen!  When the quarterback falls to the ground, even the ground exerts a force, causing the quarterback to stop falling.

A serene forest path blanketed with orange and yellow fallen leaves is flanked by tall trees with autumn foliage. The canopy above is a mix of vibrant orange, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere under a clear sky.

God’s Order and Power in Creation and Physics in Everyday Life!

Newton’s Laws of Physics are constant and consistent throughout not just football but our everyday lives. These laws never change, and we see them when we watch sports or in our daily activities.

It’s exciting to think about how God created these laws that show us His order and power. Football is exhilarating to play- and is great entertainment, but nothing compares to how God operates in creation!     

Coming Soon: Physics Student Reader and Lab Manual!

1 Comment

  1. MeritK

    Thank you for this creative suggestion for bringing physics into everyday life!

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Continue Reading