Forces on a Football
Unlike many of the balls used in sports, the football is not shaped as a sphere, but is shaped as an ellipse. This particular shape helps the accuracy and distance the ball is thrown. Although the balls are different shapes, the forces acting on a football are similar to those that act on a soccer ball.
- Drag refers to the air resistance, acting on the ball in the opposite direction of the movement of an object.
- Lift is the force opposite to gravity that acts against the weight of an object to move it upward.
