Immaculate Physics

I don't think there is much point in trying to rely on the laws of physics without a decent film for reference. Despite my best efforts, I could locate no videos on the Internet - neither the crappy, spliced together NFL Films version that was the unofficial "only" version, nor the version which popped up several years ago during an NBC broadcast of an AFC Championship game (1998, I think).

The conservation of momentum argument, it seems to me, works equally well if the ball had hit Tatum or Fuqua. For the Tatum explanation, it is self-evident: Tatum's momentum goes to the ball. But the example given to demonstrate the principle of conservation of momentum in one of the linked articles allows for the Fuqua-touched-it explanation: think of Frenchy as one of the middle balls in the 5-ball desk toy, Tatum as one of the end balls, and the football being the ball at the opposite end. Tatum transfers momentum to Fuqua via his hit, and Fuqua transfers Tatum's momentum to the ball.

I don't know why the "good" film is so rarely seen. It's not as if the outcome will change or the Raiders will get miffed and leave town - they did that once already!

Bruce - any help in getting us the decent video?