The Book of Wildly Spectacular Sports Science: 54 All-Star Experiments

by Sean Connolly

Overview

Why does a knuckleball flutter? Why do belly flops hurt so much? Why would a quarterback prefer a deflated football?

Here are 54 all-star experiments that demonstrate the scientific principles powering a wide variety of sports and activities—and offer insights that can help you improve your own athletic skills. How does a black belt karate chop her way through a stack of bricks? Use Popsicle sticks to understand why it’s possible and learn the role played by Newton’s second law of motion. Does LeBron James really float through the air on the way to a dunk? Use a tennis ball, a paperback book, and the help of a friend to understand the science of momentum and the real meaning of hang time. Using common household objects, each project includes step-by-step instructions, tips, and a detailed explanation of how and why the experiment worked. It’s a win-win.

The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat—it’s all in the science.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761189282
Publisher:	Workman Publishing Company
Publication date:	11/29/2016
Series:	Irresponsible Science Series
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	660,458
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.70(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	1020L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sean Connolly is the author of The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science, The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science, The Book of Perfectly Perilous Math, and other books for children. He is the father of three, and loves doing science experiments with his kids.

 

Editorial Reviews

09/12/2016
In the fourth title in the series that began with The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science, Connolly gets at the science behind sports with 54 experiments designed to provide answers to questions like “What Makes a Frisbee Fly?” while introducing such concepts as lift, drag, propulsion, friction, kinetic energy, and mass. The experiments are a mix of physically active (using a playground seesaw to explore the torque involved in a snowboarder’s flip) and rainy day friendly (a pen, putty, and DVD help demonstrate the angular momentum of a football spiral pass). The chatty tone, clear scientific explanations, and broad range of athletics discussed mean there’s something here for just about every kind of sports fan. Ages 9–up. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

An engaging introduction to the principles of physics using well-chosen examples from the world of sports. For each sport science example, a simple do-it-yourself experiment (demonstration) is outlined which brings the applicable physics theory to life. Young curious readers will enjoy this book. Adults in the NFL head office might benefit from the section on deflated footballs.”
—JOHN URSCHEL, NFL offensive lineman and PhD candidate in mathematics at MIT

“The chatty tone, clear scientific explanations, and broad range of athletics discussed mean there’s something here for just about every kind of sports fan.” —Publishers Weekly

“Sports enthusiasts will find it entertaining, and science teachers could use examples to spice up their presentations. Worth the purchase just to learn the most effective angle to skip a stone across a water surface.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

12/01/2016
Gr 4 Up—Connolly's appealing collection of hands-on experiments illustrates many of the science principles at work in athletics. The work consists of seven well-organized chapters of clearly described activities. The format for each experiment is consistent, beginning with a heading that notes the specific sport involved and estimated amount of time needed to complete the project. The smooth writing style and engaging content enliven the learning process and will even enlist the participation of those not scientifically inclined. The cartoonish artwork also adds touches of humor. Each experiment is wrapped up with a concluding explanatory section discussing the science involved and how it relates to a given sport. Examples of science concepts covered include Boyle's law, centripetal force, conservation of energy, kinetic energy, Newton's laws of motion, and surface tension. Students can conduct these experiments on their own. However, some activities do require adult help or supervision (safety cautions are provided throughout). Teachers, too, will find a wealth of material to enhance classroom lessons or physical education classes. VERDICT A worthy purchase for all libraries, especially for schools.—Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH

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