The document summarizes the physics calculations to determine if a field goal kick from the 52 yard line will clear the crossbar and goal posts. It is shown that the kick leaves the ground at 25 m/s and an angle of 30 degrees, resulting in horizontal and vertical velocity components of 21.65 m/s and 12.5 m/s respectively. Using kinematic equations, the time of flight is calculated to be 2.217 seconds, with a maximum height of 3.616 meters, clearing the 3 meter crossbar. Additionally, it is determined that the kick would clear the outstretched arms of a defensive lineman 7 meters from the line of scrimmage.

1. A Field Goal
The Story of the Giant’s kicker
Josh Brown’s
Longest Attempt

2. • Josh Brown, the Giant’s Field
Goal kicker is attempting his
personal best field goal from the
52 yard line (~48 m).
• If the kick leaves the ground at 25
m/s at an angle of 30o, Determine
the following:

3. • Assuming the
crossbar is 3 m
high, does his
kick make it over
the crossbar?

4. • Step One: Determine the X and Y
components of the original Launch
Velocity
• Vix=(25 m/s) x cos(30o) = 21.65 m/s
• Viy=(25 m/s) x sin(30o) = 12.5 m/s

5. • Organize your Givens into an X/Y Chart:
X
|
Y
----------------------------------------------Vix=21.65 m/s | Viy=12.5 m/s
Vfx=Vix=Vavex |
Vfy=Vapexy = 0 m/s
ax=0 m/s2
|
ay=-9.81 m/s2
dx=48 m
|
dy=?
----------------------------------------------t=?

6. • Step 3: Determine the time to travel to the
goal post:
dx=Vix x t
48 m = 21.65 m/s x t
t = 2.217 s

7. • Step 4: Determine the time to the apex:
Vfy = Viy + ay x t
0 m/s = 12.5 m/s + (-9.81 m/s2) x t
t = 1.274 s

8. • SO…… that means that after reaching the
apex of the flight at 1.2742 s, the football fell
from the apex for an additional 0.943 s
(2.2172 s - 1.274 s). The questions is….how
far did you fall from the apex.
If you set Viy to 0 m/s at the apex, then the
displacement equation tells how far you fell:
dy = (viy x t) + 1/2 x ay x t2
dy = 0 + (0.5 x -9.81 m/s2 x (0.943 s)2
dy = -4.36 m

9. • The Max height (apex) can be determined
using the displacement equation:
dmax = (12.5 m/s x 1.274 s) +
(0.5 x -9.81 m/s2 x (1.274 s)2)
dmax = 7.976 m
So, at the crossbar, the football was 3.616 m
from the ground….easily clearing the 3 m
crossbar
“He Shoots! He Scores!”

10. Did I really need to do ALL that????
If I know that the ball must stay in the air for 2.217s to reach
the crossbar horizontally, what would the vertical
displacement be if I solved using that time?
dy = (Viy x t) + ((1/2 x ay x (t2))
dy = (12.5 m/s x 2.217 s) + ((0.5 x -9.81 m/s 2 x (2.217 s)2)
dy = 3.61 m !!! The SAME height above the ground we
calculated previously!!
AIN’T PHYSICS GREAT?!?!?!!!!

11. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE “D”?
• If Terrell Brown
(6’11” Defensive
lineman) is able to
reach his hands up
2.9 m at a distance
of 7 m from the kick
(line of scrimmage),
Does he block it?

12. • The kick will travel the 7 m to the line of
scrimmage in 0.32 s. The kick will rise from the
ground a distance of 3.53 m, clearing the
outstretched arms of Terrell Brown by 0.63 m
• (~ 2 ft).
So Brown beats Brown!
HE SHOOTS! HE SCORES!!!