Explore the Science of Basketball

Whether your family looks forward to watching March Madness every year or your child enjoys practicing their dribbling in the driveway, discussing the science behind basketball is an awesome opportunity for any young innovator to experience STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning at home. Keep reading to discover how you can help them cheer on their favorite teams while learning some of the science behind high-scoring routines!

Selecting a Court-Worthy Basketball

From the materials used to the amount of air it should contain, a lot of science has gone into the design of a basketball. Each one is made specifically for dribbling, passing, shooting and other fundamental skills of the game. Even the color of the ball was changed from brown to orange so it would be more easily seen on a basketball court!

Have you noticed the bumps on a basketball? These are called pebbles, and they create friction between the ball and a player’s hand. Pebbles make the basketball less slippery, so it’s easier to grip while dribbling down the court. If a basketball were smooth in texture, it would be much harder to catch and control because there would be less friction.

Air pressure is also important. Most basketballs will label how much air they should contain for gameplay, measured by psi (pounds per square inch). This is because the amount of air used to inflate the ball will change the way it bounces. When a ball is dropped, the potential energy stored in the object turns into kinetic energy due to its motion. When the ball hits the ground, some of the kinetic energy will be transferred to the surface of the ball. If the ball has low air pressure from not being fully inflated, the material on the ball’s surface will absorb more of the energy as it distorts and flattens, causing it to not bounce as high as a ball that has high air pressure. A fully inflated ball allows more of the kinetic energy to transfer into the bounce, causing it to bounce higher and longer.

Tricks to a Winning Play

Along with the equipment design, the game of basketball also is shaped by physics concepts. Players demonstrate the power of physics in each play. From the art of making a perfect pass to scoring with an accurate shot, players must think ahead about how factors such as angles, trajectory and power will impact their play.

Thanks to the law of reflection, we know that the angle at which the ball is thrown into a bounce pass will be the same angle at which the ball bounces back up. To keep the defense from easily stealing the ball, players must use this knowledge to make strong, accurate bounce passes to their teammates. Even if the angle is good, if there is not enough force, or power, behind their pass, it will not have the energy to make it to their teammate.

The same law applies to how the ball bounces off the backboard when a player goes in for a layup. That’s why the smaller rectangle can be seen on a backboard, to help players aim and gauge the trajectory of their shot.

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