The Mathematics of Projectiles in Sport [Paperback]

Of considerable interest to applied mathematicians as well as sporting enthusiasts is the mathematical theory underlying the many sporting activities documented here, ranging from the high jump to frisbees and soccer to table tennis.Of considerable interest to applied mathematicians as well as sporting enthusiasts is the mathematical theory underlying the many sporting activities documented here, ranging from the high jump to frisbees and soccer to table tennis.The mathematical theory underlying many sporting activities is of considerable interest to both applied mathematicians and sporting enthusiasts alike. Here Professor de Mestre presents a rigorous account of the techniques applied to the motion of projectiles. This equips the reader for the final section of the book in which an enlightening collection of sporting applications is considered, ranging from the high jump to frisbees and soccer to table tennis. The presentation should be accessible to most undergraduate science students and provides an ideal setting for the development of mathematical modeling techniques.Preface; 1. Motion under gravity alone; 2. Motion in a linear resisting medium; 3. Motion in a non-linear resisting medium; 4. The basic equations and their numerical solution; 5. Small drag or small gravity; 6. Corrections due to other effects; 7. Spin effects; 8. Projectiles in sport and recreation; References; Index. ...delightful book which treats a special set of dynamical systems of considerable interest. Victor G. Szebehely, American Mathematical Monthly The writing is clear and the book is very free of errors. The early chapters could well serve advanced undergraduates as a source of interesting problems; the later chapters and references could provide research material for graduate students or faculty. Mathematical Reviews ...an interesting book that presents some difficult material in a terse but readable style. Richard C. Roberts, Journal of College Science Teaching