Tennis: Andy Murray is serving. How long have you got to return his serve?

 No. 1 UK tennis star Andy Murray is currently playing in the Melbourne Open. 

Mathspig often pops along to watch the tennis. 

Andy Murray’s Serve by Carineo6

Could you return Andy Murray’s serve? 

According to Wikipedia Andy Murray’s fastest serve speed is:

Andy Murray = 233 km/h (145 mph)

Keep in mind the fastest female tennis serve by Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová is a very respectable 225 km/h (140 mph).

Go here to see why this simplified calculation works! 

Mathspig tested her reaction time here. TRY IT!

Mathspig’s best, best, best reaction time = O.33 sec

Could Mathspig return Andy Murray’s serve?

Nooooo!…………………………………………………………………….

I’d be hit in the head by a speeding tennis ball

before I even moved.

But I’m a pig. I got the best service GRUNT! Ha!

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Hellooooooooo Darlings,

Mathspig is going to the Aussie Open Tennis Semi-finals tonight.

Some quick maths.

Men’s and Women’s Singles Prize Money;

Win; $3,100,000 

Runner UP: $1,550,00

It cost me … ARGGHHHH! … $Aus250 a ticket. If they play for the average game time of a Grand Slam match of 1 1/2 hrs it will costing me $2.78 a minute or 1 1/2 cappuccinos a minute. 

If the game goes for 3 hrs (more common in finals) it will be costing me $1.39 a minute, but the winner gets $650,000 for playing in a semi-final and that means they earn – for 3 hrs – $7,222 a minute. Now that is a lot of cappuccinos. 

Of course, tennis stars need maths … to count all that loot!!!!!!!

…………………………………………………….

kissy kissy

………………………………………………………….

Mathspig

 

Could you return Andy Murray’s serve?

 

Mathspig is, like, soooooo excited. Tonight I’m gong to watch

TOMAS BERDYCH

Tomas Berdych (CZE) [7] play Andy Murray (GBR) [6] in the Semi-finals at the Australian Tennis Open.

Andy Murray

Some quick maths.

Tomas Berdych is 1.96 METRES (6 FT. 5 IN.) 

While Andy Murray is 1.91 METRES (6 FT. 3 IN.)

But, but, but …. Andy Murray, who is 26 years old and is 2 years younger than Berdych.

Would you be able to return the serve of a top tennis player?

Here is the serve speed of the of the fastest recorded tennis serves in the world:

 

How long would it take a tennis ball traveling at these speeds to reach the service line on the other side of the court?

BUT … BUT … BUT … 

The tennis ball leaves the servers racket approx 3m above the baseline and travels along the hypotenuse to the service line. We must call in Pythagorus Theorem!!!!

 

You can calculate the time it takes a tennis ball to reach the service line for each player in the Top 10 Service Speeds List by using the simple v = x/t equation.

The big question is this:

How fast is YOUR reaction time?

You have to be able to move your racket before the ball arrives.

Can you do it mathspiggies?

You can calculate your reaction time by two methods:

1. The meter rule Method:

See details at Top End Sports Website.

2. Online Reaction Time Test

This is the best reaction time clock I’ve seen because it uses a traffic light system. Here is Mathspig’s reaction time:

Mathspigs reaction time was : 0.33 secs (see above)

So Mathspig would probably be hit on the head by a serve by Samuel Groth.

Could you return Andy Murray’s serve? 

According to Wikipedia fastest service speed times for these two players are:

Andy Murray = 233 km/h (145 mph)

Tomas Berdych = 226.0 km/h (140.4 mph)

Tomas Berdych service speed just beats the fastest female tennis serve by Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová at 225 km/h (140 mph).

Could Mathspig react in time to return Andy Murray’s server? Could you react in time?

Tomas Berdych’s serve would hit the line after 0.29 secs. Once again, I’d still be hit on the head. Ditto the top female tennis players.

Mathspig might lose if she played in the Aussie Tennis Open, but I’m a pig. I’d win serve GRUNT of the match. Ha!