The Physics of Bowling
Abstract
Did you know that the sport of bowling entirely involves physics? Well if you didn't know that, you should read this blog post about the physics incorporated into everybody's favorite sport to play at night on the weekend.
Bowling is a simple sport. First, grab a bowling ball with a weight that you're able to carry. Then, you approach the lane and aim your roll so you don’t miss the pins. Next, you roll the ball with force and accuracy. Last but not least, you hope that the force, speed and inertia applied on the ball knocks all the pins over.
Here are some scenarios in which physics is present in bowling. First, a bowling ball will slow down as it’s going down the lane due to the friction present between the ball and floor. To add on, bowling involves both somewhat elastic and inelastic collisions. Bowling also involves the conservation of momentum within the ball and pins. Moreover, Newton's Three Laws are very much a part of bowling physics. Lastly, inertia plays a great role in the way bowling is, as there's inertia in both the ball and pins.
The sport of bowling is all about physics. To learn more about it, read my paper and view my slides to gain a better sense to how your knowledge of physics can change your viewpoint on the sport.