Ace Your Sports Science Project: Great Science Fair Ideas Book

Introduction 5

The Scientific Method 6

Science Fair Project Ideas 8

Science Fairs 8

Safety First 9

Chapter 1 Physical Conditioning: Are You Ready for Action? 11

1.1 Testing Your Physical Condition 19

1.2 Aerobic Exercise, Heart Rate, and Performance 25

1.3 Anaerobic Exercise and Performance 27

1.4 Tired Muscles 28

Chapter 2 What Makes a Good Athlete? 31

2.1 Speed on the Base Paths 32

2.2 Throwing Speed From the Outfield 34

2.3 Are Passes Really Faster? 36

2.4 How to Kick a Football the Maximum Distance 39

2.5 Sports and Center of Gravity 43

2.6 A Football's Center of Gravity and Passing 45

2.7 Where Is a Bat's Sweet Spot? 48

2.8 Shooting Positions: Angle and Distance 50

Chapter 3 Sports and Physics 55

3.1 What Is the Importance of Follow-through? 57

3.2 How to Catch a Ball With "Soft Hands" 60

3.3 How to Determine the Rebound Rating of a Ball 65

3.4 Rules for Game Balls 68

3.5 Protection From Collisions 70

3.6 What Is the Magnus Effect? 72

3.7 Observation of Bernoulli's Principle 76

Chapter 4 Tennis and Golf 81

4.1 How Spin Affects the Flight of a Tennis Ball 82

4.2 The Bounce: Rebound Angle Without Spin 86

4.3 Rebound Angle With Spin 87

4.4 What Is the Air Resistance of a Golf Ball? 90

4.5 Why Do Golfers Use So Many Different Clubs? 93

Chapter 5 Baseball, Basketball, and Football 97

5.1 What Is a Baseball? 99

5.2 Best Angle of Launch 102

5.3 Controlling the Bounciness of a Basketball 106

5.4 Topspin and Backspin 109

5.5 Getting the Basketball Into the Basket 112

5.6 What Is the Effect of Spin on a Basketball? 113

5.7 The Football Is an Odd Ball 116

5.8 The Football Pass With and Without Spin117

5.9 Punting a Football 120

Appendix 1 Ball Sizes and Rebound Ratings 123

Further Reading and Internet Addresses 125

Index 126