Playing basketball on the moon?

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    Basketball Moon
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the physics of playing basketball on the moon, particularly focusing on how reduced gravity affects movement, force, and the dynamics of dribbling and shooting a basketball. Participants explore theoretical implications, practical considerations, and anecdotal references to lunar activities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that movements such as dribbling and running could be faster on the moon due to weaker gravitational forces.
  • Others argue that while the gravitational field is weaker, inertia and the need to impart acceleration to mass remain unchanged, suggesting that the dynamics of dribbling would be different.
  • A participant notes that the curvature of the ball's trajectory would be more rectilinear on the moon, affecting how the ball bounces.
  • One participant questions whether the same force would be required to stop a basketball on the moon as on Earth, leading to a discussion about the effects of gravity on vertical motion.
  • Another participant suggests that while horizontal forces might remain similar, less impulse would be needed to shoot the ball into a basket due to lower gravitational pull.
  • Concerns are raised about the moon's surface being powdery, which could complicate dribbling and overall gameplay.
  • Participants reference videos of astronauts on the moon to illustrate their points about movement and activity in reduced gravity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the effects of lunar gravity on basketball dynamics, with no consensus reached on whether more or less force is required for specific actions like dribbling or shooting. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact implications of reduced gravity on gameplay.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that the dynamics of motion on the moon are influenced by both gravitational differences and the physical properties of the lunar surface, which may affect gameplay in ways that are not fully quantified.

AFG34
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If the gravitational field strenght is weaker than that of earth, then less force is required to do a certain amount of work than required on earth. So my question is, Would our movements be faster? Like dribbling and hand movements and running?
 
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Inertia, imparting acceleration to mass, would stay the same. The curvature of the ball's passing would be more rectilinear due to 1/6 the gravity of Earth, and dribbling would be more symmetric (nearer the same speed at the bottom and the top of the bounce). Upward movements would be somewhat faster than on Earth.
 
Last edited:
AFG34 said:
If the gravitational field strenght is weaker than that of earth, then less force is required to do a certain amount of work than required on earth. So my question is, Would our movements be faster? Like dribbling and hand movements and running?

The weight of an object is less on the moon, but not the mass. Suppose a ball of mass m is coming at you at speed v, you'd require exactly same impusle as on Earth to send it back at speed v. But of course, in order to put the ball in a basket, you will require less speed because it falls slower.

Have you seen the videos of men on the moon walking or running?
 
Shooting star said:
Have you seen the videos of men on the moon walking or running?

could you please link me to them?
 
Forgot to mention, one of the astronauts played golf there too. I don't recall which mission.
 
ok got more questions:

a bball(.5kg) is traveling straight at your hands and it's velocity is 5m/s right before it hits your hand. If it takes you .5 seconds to stop it, you would have to apply a force of 5N: F=ma=(.5kg)(v2-v1/t)
=(.5kg)((5m/s - 0m/s)/.5s)
=5N
So is it correct to assume that the same force would be required to stop a ball on the surface Earth and on the surface of the moon?
 
The ball has always a vertical component of accn, which is less on moon. So, it'll always take more uniform force to stop it in 0.5 s on earth, if the ball is on the way down. If it's on the way up, then it'll take less force on Earth to stop it in the same time. Balls always travel in parabolas, not flat out.

But you can say that your derivation is approximately true when the trajectory is very flat.
 
would i be correct if i said that you would need more force to dribble a ball on the moon at the same speed as on earth. Moon has less pull on the ball compared to earth.
 
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  • #10
I don't think so, even though dribbling is a complicated procedure, involving both horizontal and vertical motions (I think). The horizontal motions would need the same force or impulse as on earth, but it'll jump more. For putting the ball in the basket, less impulse would be required. You can send the ball farther on the moon, though.
 
  • #11
dribbling would be hard because the moon's surface is very powdery.

I guess if you grew up on the moon, then it would be something to play basketball on Earth.
 
  • #12
nanoWatt said:
dribbling would be hard because the moon's surface is very powdery.

Yes, and also you tend to get so dirty in all that powdery stuff, and there's no water on the moon to take a shower after the game.
 

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