HSS 409, Homework 3
Katie Joseph
The Physics of Volleyball
Volleyball is a sport that incorporates many of the fundamental aspects of physics, such as
displacement, velocity, acceleration, gravity, projectile motion, force, and work. It is these
important concepts that help form volleyball into the exciting and fast-paced game that it is, and
a better understanding of these concepts could greatly improve one’s volleyball game.
Displacement, or the change in position of an object, is a simple concept that is evident in
multiple aspects of the game of volleyball. The six players on the court each have a designated
position; however, because there is a set rotation, a player will not always begin in their set
position and they have to move to that place. This change in movement is an example of
displacement. Another example would be the change in position of the volleyball as it moves
from player to player and from one side of the net to the other. With the idea of displacement
come two related concept, velocity and acceleration, which are important factors in volleyball.
Velocity, or displacement in a given time, is demonstrated in volleyball in how fast the volleyball
moves from one place to another and how fast a player moves to different spots on the court.
The velocity of the ball is important because the higher the velocity, the more difficult it will be
for the opposing player to hit the ball back; the velocity of the players is also important because
quickness on the court is essential to get to fast moving balls. The change in velocity is called
acceleration, and both the player and the ball possess this aspect of physics. Acceleration can be
used to find the speed of a player whose velocity increases and decreases during a certain amount
of time in motion. Another interrelated concept in physics involved in volleyball is gravity,
which affects every aspect of the game, but, most importantly, the movement of the ball. When
a volleyball is set, served, or passed, it moves in two dimensions which are influenced by the
downward pull of gravity and horizontal motion; this parabolic trajectory is known as projectile
motion. The acceleration of the ball is made up of two components, the vertical and the
horizontal. The vertical aspect of acceleration is the acceleration due to gravity, which is
commonly known as 9.8 m/sec2.
When a player sets, hits, or serves a volleyball, the ball moves in the direction of where the
player is aiming. The ball moves the direction in which the force has been applied and
displacement occurs, resulting in work. In volleyball, the ball is constantly being displaced, so
work is constantly being done. The rate at which this work is being done is called power.
Maximum power is desired to have the most force behind a hit or a serve. This idea applies to
multiple aspects of the game, most obviously, the hitting of the volleyball and the arm swing that
goes into the hit. The faster the arm swing, the more power behind the ball.
Serving the ball is a basic skill in volleyball that involves a great deal of physics. The first basic
idea is to contact the ball high, above the head, with the arm extended and in front of the serving
shoulder to reach maximum power and accuracy. Then the player needs to accelerate their arm
and rotate their shoulders into contact, hitting the center of the ball. This step deals with
acceleration, rotation, center of mass, and projectile motion. Contact on the ball needs to be
short and controlled to allow for maximum power. Basic physics concepts are incorporated in
the fundamental skills and strategies throughout the entire game of volleyball.
http://www.hesston.edu/academic/faculty/nelsonk/PhysicsResearch/Volleyball/paper.htm