Chapter 2 Challenge: The Physics of Sports
Due Date: Thursday March 28th.
Objective:
Make a 2-3 minute imovie of either…
1) A sports broadcast of your own recording
2) A sports broadcast of a PV high school sports event.
3) A sports science video, see sports science link below for an example, in which you
educate our class on the physics of sports.
4) A sports broadcast of youtube clips.
Physics Requirements:
Choose at least 4 physics categories of those listed below to use in your video. Calculations
may be used but are not required. More concepts will be added to this list as we do more
sections.
 Apply reference frames to describe the motion of sports object from different
perspectives.
 Use Newton’s second law (F=ma) to explain how the magnitude of force and the mass of
an object affects an object’s acceleration.
 Explain for a sports object what an unbalanced force does to it and a balanced force does.
 Explain how different coefficients of friction can set different limits on the amount of
static friction you could achieve, and what happens if your push exceeds static friction’s
limit.
 Use concepts such as acceleration, air resistance, and terminal velocity to describe the
flight of different sports objects.
 Use any other free fall concepts from your notes such as hang time, time up, and time
down to describe the flight of sports objects.
 Describe what a ticker tape would look like and show about a sports objects motion if it
is attached to that sports object.
Exporting the Video: Do not export the video in final cut but use Quicktime as Medium
quality. Final cut makes files, which are too big to email to me and often to big to even play
on your computer.
Scoring Rubric – 30 pts total
Use of Physics Principles and terms in the presentation
 The Minimum Physics Concepts Requirements, which are listed
above. The level of depth in the application to sports will determine
whether you get all 15 points for this category. 15 points
Concepts
1
2
3
4
1 pt
2 pt
3 pts
Concept either
was not present
or not related to a
concrete event
depicted in the
video and made
no meaning of an
event.
“”
“”
“”
Concept was
loosely connected
to a concrete
event depicted in
the video and
made some
meaning of the
event.
“”
“”
“”
Concept was
clearly applied to
a concrete event
depicted in the
video and made
vivid meaning of
the event.
17 points
“”
“”
“”

Physics terminology and equations are correct and used when
appropriate. 3 points
 Correct estimates of the magnitudes of physical quantities are used
(such as mass, time of flight, speed, and acceleration, etc.) 2 points
Quality of the presentation
 Easy to follow and understand 4 points
 Engaging or interesting. 4 points
 Duration of imovie between two and three minutes. 2 points
Challenge Completed on time
10 points
3 points
Recommended Resources:
Sports Science
http://espn.go.com/espn/sportscience/index
Do you want to know the mass of a person? Baseball? Speed of a bat? Pitch? Google
it and click on the physics hypertextbook links such as below:
http://hypertextbook.com/facts/1999/ChristinaLee.shtml
List of sports:
I compiled this list of sports just as a starter reference for you. It is no way
complete…
The big 4:
Football (American)
Baseball
Basketball
Hockey
And More:
Soccer (Football)
Stock car Driving (NASCAR)
Formula 1 Racing
Boxing
Cycling
Field Hockey
Golf
Tennis
Handball
Lacrosse
MMA
Motorcycle Racing
Rugby
Softball
Volleyball
Pole Vault
Javelin
Shtoput
Discuss
Hurdles
Short Distance and Long Distance Running
Hang Gliding
Parachuting
Archery
Slamball (see spike tv, basketball with trampolines)
Cricket
Wiffleball
Rounders
Kickball
Skydiving
Snow boarding
Skateboarding
Bowling
Climbing
Wrestling
Sumo
Fencing
Billiards
Dance
Equestrian
Figure Skating
Rodeo
Fishing
Gymnastics
Hunting
Crew
Curling
Racquetball
Badminton
Table Tennis
Paintball
Sailing
Skiing
Luge/Skeleton
Skeet Shooting
Polo
Squash
Wallball
Water Polo
Weightlifting
Motorcross
Horse Racing
Swimming
Rugby
Pogo Stick
Arm Wrestling
Tug of War
Ultimate Frisbee
Quidditch