Physics of Sport - Football

Newton’s thirds law states that for every force, there is an equal and opposite reaction force. What this means is that if an object pushes against another object, the second object will push back just as hard. An example of Newton's third is when you hit a wall. If you lightly touch the wall, the wall gives the same amount of force as you, and usually doesn't hurt, but if you punch a wall, the wall will exert an equal force as your punch, and thus causes your hand to hurt. In football, when a player is running down the field, when his foot is on the ground, his foot exerts a force of his weight and his velocity combined, and the ground give an equal force against his foot. Another example when Newton's third law is used in football is when you cockback and throw a football. Cocking back the football is the action while thorwing the football is the Reaction force.