BETA
Chapter 1
Defying gravity with vertical leap
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Answer
Chapter 2
The illusion of hang time
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Answer
Chapter 3
Collision and the rim reaction
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Chapter 4
Biomechanics of the slam
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YOUR GOAL
Master of The physics of a slam dunk
Ch 2 · The illusion of hang time
dave The Illusion of Hang Time
Half of your airtime is in the top quarter of the jump, looking like we float!
Fun Fact
The hangtime illusion: No human can float; players raise their legs to keep their head at peak height, tricking our eyes.
Glossary
center of gravity (noun)
The point in a body or system around which its weight is evenly distributed. During his 1988 leap, Michael Jordan raised his legs to shift this point and appear suspended.
The point in a body or system around which its weight is evenly distributed. During his 1988 leap, Michael Jordan raised his legs to shift this point and appear suspended.
Quiz
What mathematical shape does a jumping basketball player's center of mass follow in the air?
Quiz
What is the typical speed of a basketball player at the moment of takeoff during a jump?
Quiz
What happens to a basketball player's actual center of mass when they pull their legs up in mid-air?
Quiz
Approximately how much does aerodynamic drag affect a basketball player's jump under normal conditions?
Quiz
Which fundamental force is solely responsible for pulling a jumping basketball player back down to the court?
Quiz
How do basketball players create the optical illusion that they are floating in the air?