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How does a double-clutch maneuver help a basketball player adjust their body in mid-air?

The physics of a slam dunk

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 4 · Biomechanics of the slam
dave

dave The physics of the double clutch

Jul 26

dave

dave Physics of the Slam Dunk

Tuck your knees to the chest! (yeah, keep it high!) Shift your center of mass to float! (oh, we float!)

Jul 26

dave

dave The mechanics of landing safely

Jul 26

dave
The physics of the double clutch

dave Bringing the ball down and up again changes momentum.

Jul 26

dave
The mechanics of landing safely

dave Bending knees on landing reduces impact forces on joints.

Jul 26

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Slam Lab Mini
BETA

dave Adjust your launch angle to master the physics of a perfect slam dunk.

Jul 26

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Fun Fact

Safe landings: Bending knees to a 90-degree angle on landing extends impact time, reducing joint forces by thousands of pounds.

Jul 26

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Glossary
momentum (noun)
The quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity. During the 1988 Chicago contest, Michael Jordan converted horizontal momentum to launch a historic dunk.

Jul 26

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Gossip

Would you try a dunk contest?

Jul 26

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Quiz

How much force can landing from a high jump exert on a basketball player's joints?

Jul 26

dave

dave The torque of the windup

Jul 26

dave
Quiz

What is the regulation height of a professional basketball rim?

Jul 26

dave

dave Why height and wingspan dominate

Jul 26

dave
Quiz

If a basketball player has a 7-foot wingspan, how does this affect their required jump height to dunk?

Jul 26

dave
Quiz

What physical law allows a basketball player to spin faster in mid-air by pulling their limbs inward?

Jul 26

dave
Quiz

To what angle should a basketball player bend their knees upon landing to safely reduce joint impact?

Jul 26

dave
Quiz

By extending the time of impact during landing by just milliseconds, what do players successfully reduce?

Jul 26

dave
Quiz

What must a basketball player apply while still on the ground to spin during a 360-degree dunk?

Jul 26

dave
Quiz

How does a double-clutch maneuver help a basketball player adjust their body in mid-air?

Jul 26