Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Play around with Golf Game version 3 and you will discover that wind has a strong effect
on the flight of a golf ball. Figure 5-12 shows the trajectory of a golf ball under a 10
m/s
(36
km/hr
)
headwind, a 10
m/s
tailwind, and under a zero wind condition. If there is no wind, the golf ball
travels 126
m
. In the presence of a 10
m/s
headwind, the ball only travels 95
m
. If the golfer is
lucky enough to have a 10
m/s
tailwind, his ball will travel 154
m
.
Figure 5-12.
The effects of headwind or tailwind on a golf ball trajectory
Another interesting thing to look at with the new Golf Game is the effect of crosswind. The
presence of a crosswind will make the ball turn away from its original flight path. For example,
Figure 5-13 shows the trajectory of a golf ball under a 10
m/s
crosswind. The wind pushes the
ball to the left during its flight. In order to get the ball to land on the green, the golfer would
have to initially aim the ball to the right (giving it a negative initial y-component of velocity).
