Impact and Contact Time
• When a foot or golf club hits a stationary ball, there is a large force acting on the
ball when they come into contact
• This causes large acceleration of the ball as it moves from rest
• Happens quickly = Newtons second Law
• Law of acceleration —> “the acceleration of a body is proportional to the force
acting on it and the acceleration takes place in the direction in which the force
acts”
• The same thing applies when the ball is already moving rapidly when it makes
contact with a bat
• Athletes should follow through wen striking a ball because it increases the velocity
of the ball and ensures better control of its direction.
• This is because the time of contact between the ball and stick is increased
• When a ball is caught, the impact in the hands is determined by the mass and
velocity of the ball
• So an increase in length of time which the force acts on the ball will reduce the
force during the catch
• When a foot or golf club hits a stationary ball, there is a large force acting on the
ball when they come into contact
• This causes large acceleration of the ball as it moves from rest
• Happens quickly = Newtons second Law
• Law of acceleration —> “the acceleration of a body is proportional to the force
acting on it and the acceleration takes place in the direction in which the force
acts”
• The same thing applies when the ball is already moving rapidly when it makes
contact with a bat
• Athletes should follow through wen striking a ball because it increases the velocity
of the ball and ensures better control of its direction.
• This is because the time of contact between the ball and stick is increased
• When a ball is caught, the impact in the hands is determined by the mass and
velocity of the ball
• So an increase in length of time which the force acts on the ball will reduce the
force during the catch
