2. Optimum Projection Angle
in the Shot Put
Tutor’s Notes
Here are the Excel graphs that the students should produce.
Conventional Calculation
The lower curve is for 8 m/s and the upper curve is for 15 m/s. (Athlete 1)
25
range (m)
20
15
10
5
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
60
70
80
90
projection angle (degrees)
Projection Velocity
This is the velocity-angle curve for Athlete 1.
20
projection speed (m/s)
15
10
5
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
projection angle (degrees)
Shot Put Lab
This graph shows that the optimum projection angle for Athlete 1 is about 34º.
25
range (m)
20
15
10
5
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
projection angle (degrees)
Launch Height
This is the height-angle curve for Athlete 1 (and also for Athletes 2 and 3).
launch height (m)
3
2
1
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
projection angle (degrees)
This graph shows the optimum projection angle for Athlete 1 when the height-angle relation is
included in equation 1.
25
range (m)
20
15
10
5
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
projection angle (degrees)
2
60
70
80
90
Shot Put Lab
Physical Characteristics of the Athletes
Here are the velocity-angle curves for Athletes 1, 2 and 3.
20
projection speed (m/s)
15
2
10
1
3
5
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
projection angle (degrees)
This shows the optimum projection angles for Athletes 1, 2 and 3.
20
range (m)
19
18
17
16
3
1
2
15
10
20
30
40
50
60
projection angle (degrees)
Copyright © 2002–2011 Nick Linthorne
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