10-16-2015, 09:09 PM
(10-14-2015, 10:44 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I am not an expert at physics but I believe that 45 degrees would be the most efficient launch angle.
So the question would be what is the average launch angle of an NFL kick off.
Any physics majors out there?
None of this is meant to be rude to either party but I'm just going to say it in a blount way so please ignore what might appear as hostile and just take the meaning.
This is where I stopped reading shortly after you originally posted. I see more discussion has occurred and I'm not at the moment fully fresh on what lead to this statement. Due to the inane nature of the typical back and forth between Brad and almost anybody as well as the same nature of of a back and forth nature of you and just about anybody, I won't re-read nor will I read what happened since.
But I will address this post.
TLDR - Simply put, transfer of energy is being ignored by you.
First point is that law (whatever name it is) about calculating the hypotenuse of a right triangle (A squared plus B squared equals C squared and all the surrounding things we know). The hypotenuse being the near line (its actually a parabola due to gravity) of 45 degree angle is going to mean the ball should be equal in height off the ground at the line of scrimmage as the distance away the kick occurred form (usually about 8 yards). Why are guys trying to jump up to block a ball that is nearly 24 feet off the ground? Answer - the ball isn't travelling at an approximate 45 degree path.
The angle of the motion by the object (in this case a foot) striking (or otherwise propelling) the projectile (in this case the ball) as well as how close to the center line of the projectile is struck. In a vaccum, yes the angle of motion is 45 degrees directly through the center line of the object would produce the best distance.
In this case the vacuum I am referring to is not only absence of air but absence of all and any factor other than gravity. The factors not being considered - the ball is on the ground or kickoffs and feild goal attempts and the foot has to be traveling a somewhat constant arc for full momentum.
Extend your leg and foot out in front of you so the surface of the foot at contact point is an approximate 45 degree angle. How high off the ground is it? I hope that height isn't the same height as the height needed to strike a football that is on the ground (actually on a tee, but still). Well, maybe not. If you were that height you could make a lot of money on freakshow appearances.
If you don't understand why the toes should be pointed away from you let us know and someone may explain it to you.
Now also consider the ball is at a 90 degree angle to the ground and shape of the ball. Even if you could make contact with the ball at a 45 degree angle passing through the centerline of the ball, just how much room for error do you have? The center of the ball is much more forgiving if you are slightly off the centerline.
A punt is used on free kicks because it is more possible to get close too the needed angles to acheive more distance. However even a punt isn't usually going to be a target angle of 45 degrees because we don't live in a vacuum (again, that isn't only air but air is the biggest factor).
