Determining the velocities and angles for a free kick problem

The free kick problem is considered for three distinct cases: (i) no air drag or lift, (ii) linear drag, and (iii) linear drag and lift. For the first case, closed form formulas are derived for the initial velocities and angles. For the second case, two coupled algebraic equations written from the trajectory equation are given and solved numerically for the initial velocities and angles. For the third case, the equations of motion are solved approximately using perturbation techniques assuming the lift coefficient to be small compared to the drag coefficient. Because the time variable cannot be eliminated between the equations, four coupled sets of algebraic equations are solved numerically for the initial velocities and angles. All three results are compared with each other and the influences of drag and lift coefficients on the velocities and angles are outlined. (author)