CS AAPT Fall2002

A FUN General Education Course: Physics of Sports: 

A FUN General Education Course: Physics of Sports J. Eric Goff Lynchburg College

My Background: 

My Background High School: Physics or Baseball?

and …: 

and … Graduate School at Indiana University Assisted John Carini in “Physics of Sports” (1998-1999)

and …: 

and … Senior project at Kenyon College (1999-2000): Physics of a Pitched Baseball Long chat with David Griffing (Miami, OH) in summer 2000 at Kenyon.

Physics of Sportsat Oberlin College: 

Physics of Sports at Oberlin College Satisfied ½ of general education science requirement (one semester course). Prerequisite: Algebra Student profile: Nonscience major! Fall 2000: 6 Students Fall 2001: 24 Students (Not bad for Oberlin!)

Textbooks: 

Textbooks The Dynamics of Sports by David F. Griffing The Physics of Baseball by Robert K. Adair

Course Description: 

Course Description Reading and homework assigned each week from Griffing and Adair. Focus mostly on mechanics. Many different sports discussed (baseball, basketball, football, soccer, swimming, tennis, sumo wrestling, hockey, weight lifting, cycling, boating, track & field, skating, gymnastics, etc.) Lecture demonstrations a must! Sports videos almost every class.

Assessment: 

Assessment Homework (20%) Two large midterm exams (45%) Course participation (5%) Bring in a video (5%) No final!! Semester-long course project (25%)

Video Example: 

Video Example 1982 Stanford-Cal Football Game

Another example …: 

Another example … 1984 Doug Flutie Hail Mary Pass in Miami → 62-yard pass, t  3s → and

Course Projects: 

Course Projects Coefficient of Restitution (Popular!): baseballs, basketballs, tennis balls, racquetballs, cricket balls → vary surfaces, temperature, pressure What is best way to run a mile? (Student also analyzed the turns!) Coach’s advice for hockey dribbling: Practice with a golf ball on concrete. What is the physics?

More …: 

More … What is horsepower for pushing a football sled? Physics of Tennis Rackets (sweet spot, etc.) What is the trajectory of a dart? Physics of Bicycles Analysis of Bowling

Successes: 

Successes Students love demonstrations! Bringing in videos assist students in connecting the material to the sports world. Physics of Sports became the subject of two newspaper articles: “Not Just Bio 101” – Crain’s Cleveland Business (10/15/01) “Famous Flutie Pass Now In Its Own Class” – Boston College Chronicle (11/01/01)

Future Goals: 

Future Goals Teach Physics of Sports at Lynchburg College Continue Physics of Sports Projects with Students (freshman to senior physics majors) Write a Physics of Sports Textbook (Wait for tenure!!)