Students gather real-world data and then analyze the data using kinematics equations.
Students need to review video footage of a selected college quarterback and NFL quarterback. Students evaluate this data to determine how far the ball is thrown. Students make approximations of the horizontal and vertical distances that the ball was thrown down the field. Students use vector algebra to determine the actual displacement of the ball.
Students also evaluate the video footage to determine the time of flight of the ball. The students need to solve kinematics equations in two dimensions to determine the initial velocity with which the ball left the quarterback’s hand.
As a final product, students write a 3-page paper to a NFL team, recommending whether they should recruit the college football player for their team.
