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The Physics of Tennis

The Physics of Tennis. by Blake Sharin. Introduction. The Sweet Spots Vibration Node Centre of Percussion The Dead Spot Coefficient of Restitution. The Sweet Spot. Two Sweet Spots Vibration Node COP Force Transmitted to hand Motions of the handle Rotation Translation Vibration

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The Physics of Tennis

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  1. The Physics of Tennis by Blake Sharin

  2. Introduction • The Sweet Spots • Vibration Node • Centre of Percussion • The Dead Spot • Coefficient of Restitution

  3. The Sweet Spot • Two Sweet Spots • Vibration Node • COP • Force Transmitted to hand • Motions of the handle • Rotation • Translation • Vibration • Maximum Speed of Ball

  4. Vibration Node • Behaves like a Uniform Beam • Fundamental Mode • Frequency • 100Hz for flexible frame • 140Hz for stiff frame • Two nodes • Near the center of strings • Near the handle

  5. Vibration Node (Contd.) • Frequency is 2.75 times the fundamental frequency • Not excited with any significant amplitude • Duration, T=5ms • Peaks at Zero at f=1.5/T=300Hz • Close to second mode frequency

  6. Centre of Percussion • Known as the impact point • Conjugate points • Impact near tip • Axis of rotation is about ½ way between the end of the handle and the CM • Impact near throat • Axis of rotation is beyond the end of the handle

  7. Power Swinging • More power when you swing at the ball near throat of racquet. • When ball hits near the throat of racquet, the ball will have more ball speed. • Heavier the racquet, more speed applied to the ball • Many types of racquets

  8. Coefficient of Restitution • Main factor in the formation of a tennis racquet • Ratio of rebound height to incident height of the ball • COR varies when the ball bounces off a certain spot on the racket • Maximum power is when COR is greatest • COR=square root of Rebound height/initial height

  9. COR Data • Tip of Head • 1st set: hd = 20 cm, hr = 12 cm • 2nd set: hd = 40 cm, hr = 24 cm • 3rd set: hd = 60 cm, hr = 36 cm • 4th set: hd = 80 cm, hr = 48 cm • 5th set: hd = 100 cm, hr = 60 cm • COR • COR (center of mass): .74162 • COR (near the throat): .63246 • COR (tip of the head): .7746 • Center of Mass • 1st set: hd = 20 cm, hr = 11 cm • 2nd set: hd = 40 cm, hr = 22 cm • 3rd set: hd = 60 cm, hr = 33 cm • 4th set: hd = 80 cm, hr = 44 cm • 5th set: hd = 100 cm, hr = 55 cm • Near Throat • 1st set: hd = 20 cm, hr = 8 cm • 2nd set: hd = 40 cm, hr = 16 cm • 3rd set: hd = 60 cm, hr = 24 cm • 4th set: hd = 80 cm, hr = 32 cm • 5th set: hd = 100 cm, hr = 40 cm hr = rebound height, hd = Initial height

  10. COR Data Analysis • Rebound height remains constant • Best spot to hit the ball • Near tip • Center of mass • Disregard throat

  11. The Dead Spot • Spot near the tip where ball doesn’t bounce at all • All of the energy is given to the racquet • Racquet doesn’t give any energy back to the ball • Effective mass of the racquet at that point is equal to the ball • Effective mass is F=ma, therefore m=F/a • When serving, the best place to hit the ball is at the dead spot • When returning, dead spot is the worst

  12. Strings on the Racquet • Act as a medium • Absorb much of the ball’s kinetic energy • Returns some of that energy back to the ball • Tighter strings produce slower ball speeds • Loose strings • Leads to slightly higher rebound velocities • More power

  13. Conclusion • Performance of the racquet • Strings • Size of the head • Larger the head = more speed applied to ball • Game depends on two main things • How well you hit with the racquet • The “spot”

  14. Bibliography • Brody, H. (1979) Physics of the tennis racket. American Journal of Physics 47, 482-487 • Brody, H. (1981) Physics of the tennis racket II: The sweet spot. American Journal of Physics, 49, 816-819. • Brody, H. (1995) How would a physicist design a tennis racket?. Physics Today, 48, 26-31 • Pallis, Jani. "The Flight of the Tennis Ball" www.Tennisserver.com

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