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Cover image of The Physics of Basketball
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The Physics of Basketball

John J. Fontanella

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Drain three pointers, slam dunk easily, and sink that buzzer beater from half court with the help of simple science. Your coach, physicist John J. Fontanella, shows how you can improve your game if you take advice from Isaac Newton. As you read, relive some of the great moments in the game—this time with a scientist and diehard basketball fan as your color analyst.

Find out why you ought to put spin on the ball. Get tips on how to improve your free throw and increase your percentage from the charity stripe. You’ll even learn how to shatter the backboard, if that’s something you’ve always...

Drain three pointers, slam dunk easily, and sink that buzzer beater from half court with the help of simple science. Your coach, physicist John J. Fontanella, shows how you can improve your game if you take advice from Isaac Newton. As you read, relive some of the great moments in the game—this time with a scientist and diehard basketball fan as your color analyst.

Find out why you ought to put spin on the ball. Get tips on how to improve your free throw and increase your percentage from the charity stripe. You’ll even learn how to shatter the backboard, if that’s something you’ve always dreamed of doing.

With photographs and simple high school formulas, physics professor Fontanella—who played in college against Pittsburgh and Syracuse—reveals the key pieces of physics that underscore basketball. He covers almost every aspect of the game, weaving in stories from games he’s played and games he’s seen, and tales from basketball history and folklore. Physics comes alive as you see how Kobe Bryant, Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Becky Hammon, and J. J. Reddick do naturally the things that Isaac Newton says they should.

Reviews

Reviews

The Physics of Basketball takes the game to a whole new level.

An unusual book, certain to attract both the sports fan and the armchair scientist.

Perfect physics aid for basketball fans.

Fontanella writes with humor and feeling.

He merges teaching about physics with tips on how to improve the game... With Fontanella's guidance, much is learned about physics, basketball, and the scientific method. Highly recommended.

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About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
5.5
x
8.5
Pages
168
ISBN
9780801885136
Illustration Description
41 halftones, 14 line drawings
Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
1. The Final Four
2. Projectile Notion
3. Nothing But Net
4. Basket Case
5. That's the Way the Ball Bounces
6. Hang Time
Appendixes
I. The Drag Force
II. The Magnus Force
III. Trajectory

Preface
Acknowledgments
1. The Final Four
2. Projectile Notion
3. Nothing But Net
4. Basket Case
5. That's the Way the Ball Bounces
6. Hang Time
Appendixes
I. The Drag Force
II. The Magnus Force
III. Trajectory Calculations
IV. Calculation Setup
V. Bounce Angles
VI. Coefficient of Restitution
Notes
Index

Author Bio
Resources

Additional Resources