·        Syllabus for The Physics of Sports

Students will develop an understanding of the fundamental concepts, laws, and the theories of physics as they relate to a variety of sports and The Arts. The course content will be driven by student interests in specific sports.

This course is a hands-on, lab-driven course where the students will get their hands dirty as they explore the fundamentals behind their favorite hobbies and activities.

Credit: 1/2 unit

Time: half year

Exam: Departmental/project based

Prerequisites: Math II

Motion

1. Speed & Velocity
2. Acceleration
3. Freefall
4. Projectile Motion

Forces

1. Newton's First Law
2. Newton's Second Law
3. Friction
4. Newton's Third Law
5. Momentum and Impulse

Collisions

1. Videos
2. Conservation of Momentum
3. Impulse

Energy and Work

1. Energy Types
2. Conservation of Energy
3. Work
4. Power

 Student Questions:

All Sports: 

 
• What happens when your body flips over?
•  

 

Baseball 

• When you throw a sinker, why does the ball rotate side to side but still drops?
• How does a curveball curve?  
• How do movement pitches in baseball curve, slide, float etc.?
• how do I create the perfect pitch? 
• How fast does a batter swing to a 95 mph fast ball?
•  

 Skiing

 

• How does your stance affect your skiing?
•  

Surfing

 

• In surfing how does the board glide over the waves? (the scientific reason 

Track and Field

 

• How can I get the maximum distance in jumping?
• How can I be a more efficient distance runner?
• How can you increase a 2 mile run time using physics?
• Is there a certain way you should run to increase speed?

Golf

 

• In golf, how do you get rid of a slice?

 

 

Soccer

 

 

• How can I hit the ball better or with more curve?
•  

 

Hockey

 

how to hit a  harder shot

 

 

Fishing

 

• How do I cast farther?
   
   

Basketball

 

•  What is the perfect angle for a 3 point shot in basketball ?
   

•  How does Hang Time really work?

 

Working Out and Exercise

 

• How can you increase the weight you do when working out using physics?
•  

 Football and Rugby

 

• In rugby what would be the best way to tackle someone?
•  

 Auto Racing - Nascar, Indy

 

• What is drafting really for?
• What sort of things do Nascar drivers do to gain advantages?
• Why are monster truck bodies so high from the ground?

Volleyball

 

• How do I get the perfect jump serve to spin?
•  

 Diving

 

• Why do divers make mistakes when hitting the water?
•  

 

Ice Skating

 

 

• How do you do a double axel?
•  Michelle Kwan