BOWLING ALLEY PHYSICS
Purpose: To explore physics concepts demonstrated in bowling: speed,
energy, momentum, force, and acceleration
Materials:
Stopwatch, meter stick, calculator, bowling shoes, bowling ball
Procedures:
1. Request shoes from check-in counter if
desired. Shoe selection is limited, so
be prepared to bowl in your socks if necessary. Street shoes are not
allowed in the bowling approach area.
Do not step across the foul line onto the bowling surface for any
reason.
2. Select ball of desired weight. Most house balls are marked with their
weight in pounds. Calculate the mass of
the ball in kilograms. (1 pound = 0.454
kg)
3. Go with your group to a designated lane. Record the lane number in the data
table. Take turns timing and measuring
for each other.
Linear
Motion Data Section
4. Measure the time it takes for each person’s ball
to travel from the foul line to the first pin hit. Record the time and the
number of pins knocked down. Calculate
the speed of the ball’s motion using 18.3 meters as the distance of the lane.
5. At the highest point of each person’s backswing,
measure the distance from the bottom of the ball to the floor and record as the
backswing height on the data table.
6. Repeat both of these measurements for two more
shots for each bowler.
7. Calculate the average speed of the linear motion
and average backswing height. Calculate
the average momentum and kinetic energy of the ball, using the average speed
and the mass of the ball. Using the average height, calculate the potential
energy of the ball at that point and record.
Circular
Motion Data Section
8. Measure the radius of the ball’s circular travel
by finding the length of your “bowling arm”, the distance from your shoulder
joint to the center of the ball. Record in the circular motion data table.
9. Measure the time of each others’ swing, from the
top of the backswing to the release of the ball and record. Repeat for two more trials and record in the
circular motion data table.
10. Estimate the fractional part of a complete
circle that the ball passes through during the delivery and record. Calculate and record the distance the ball
actually travels by multiplying this fraction times the circumference of the
complete circle.
11. Calculate the
speed of each swing and the average speed. Using the average speed, calculate the centripetal acceleration
and centripetal force that your arm applies to the ball and record.
12. Continue bowling as time permits, varying your
swing, speed, ball placement, and ball rotation. Note any changes in your bowling success. Observe others to see what other styles and
variations affect success. Record
observations in section labeled additional observations.
Name
Period Lab
Partners
Data:
Make
all measurements as accurately as possible.
Record all data and calculated quantities in the data table. Show an example calculation for each
calculated quantity using proper significant figures and MKS (metric) units.
Useful Formulas:
speed (velocity ): v = d/t momentum: p = mv
kinetic energy : Ek = ˝ mv2 potential energy: EP = mgh
circumference: C = 2pr centripetal acceleration: ac = v2/r
centripetal force: Fc = mac
Linear Motion Data Table
|
Trial |
Alley
# |
Distance
(m) |
Time
(s) |
Speed
(m/s) |
Mass
of Ball (kg) |
Backswing
Height (m) |
#
pins |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Speed =
______________________________________________________________
Momentum =
_________________________________________________________________
Avg. Kinetic Energy =
__________________________________________________________
Potential Energy =
_____________________________________________________________
Circular Motion Data Table
|
Trial |
Radius (m) |
Circumference
(m) |
Part of Circle |
Distance (m) |
Time (s) |
Speed (m/s) |
# Pins |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Speed =
______________________________________________________________
Centripetal Acceleration =
_______________________________________________________
Centripetal Force = ____________________________________________________________
Additional
Observations:
Conclusion: Using
your data, and that of other students, answer the following questions.
1.
Is the linear speed of
the ball an important factor for a good score? ______________ Why, or why not?
___________________________________________________________
2.
Which of the measured or
calculated quantities are affected by the mass/weight of the
ball?______________________________________________________________________ Are
any of these quantities important to the success of the bowler? Explain.
_____________
_________________________________________________________________________ If
you can use a heavier ball (and control it equally) is this an
advantage?____________ Why? _____________________________________________________________________
3.
What seems to be the most
important factor(s) for a good bowling score?
____________
__________________________________________________________________________
4.
Compare the potential
energy and the kinetic energy you calculated.
According to conservation of energy, how should these two quantities be
related? _______________
__________________________________________________________________________
Which one is larger, and by how much?
_________________________________________ How can you account for this
difference? _________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
5.
At the bottom of your
swing, your arm, hand, and fingers must support the weight of the ball and
provide the centripetal force.
Calculate this combined force for your delivery of the ball.
_______________________________________________ Assuming 20 shots per game,
what is the total force your hand must exert on the ball for a complete game?
__________________________ Does this explain why your fingers can get sore
after bowling a few games? ____________________________
6.
Accuracy is very
important in bowling. If your aim is
off by one-tenth of a degree at the foul line, by what distance to the left or
right will the ball miss the desired target? ___________________
Hint: Use trigonometry: the ball follows the hypotenuse, the intended path is the adjacent side.