How High Will It Fly? : Student Pages

Background information | Using SportSim | SportSim

Objectives

You will use a computer program to learn about the flight of different sports balls. You will be asked to:

• plot your results,
• answer questions using the computer software,
• create your own questions.

Steps to Follow

1. Review the information in the background section.

2. Review the instructions on the computer software simulator 'SportSim'.

3. Select a velocity, release height and court position on the SportSim menu and run SportSim.

4. Tape the transparent sheet over the computer monitor screen. Trace the plots.

5. Keeping all other parameters the same, change the location to Mexico City in SportSim. Trace this new plot on the same sheet in a different colour.

6. Compare the plots. Does a ball travel further at higher altitudes or lower altitudes? Why?

7. Reset SportSim to the original parameters. Select a ball type, velocity, release height and spin rate. Set the spin type to topspin. Keep the altitude at 0 metres (London). Run SportSim. Plot your answers as you did in the previous example. Now keeping all other parameters the same, change the spin type to backspin. Plot your answers. Does a ball go further with topspin or backspin?

8. You are a SportSim expert now! Reset SportSim. Now you create three questions and find the answers with SportSim. Ask others in your group if they can answer your questions using SportSim.

Evaluation Questions

• Does a ball travel further with topspin, backspin or no spin?

• Does a ball curve more or less at high altitudes?

• What did you enjoy most about the lesson?

• List the three questions you developed in Step 8. Were your classmates able to answer your questions.

• Did you finish the lesson?

Background information | Using SportSim | SportSim