Science in the Arena: Explanations and Analyses of Performances and Phenomena in Sport (Iop Concise Physics)

The arena of sport is filled with marvelous performances and feats that, at times, seem almost beyond belief. As curious onlookers, we often wonder whether or not athletes will reach certain peaks and what determines their limits of athletic performance. Science, with its emphasis on theoretical development and experimental results, is uniquely equipped to answer these kinds of questions. Over the past two decades, I have been asked innumerable questions related to how science can provide these kinds of insights. Science in the Arena is written as an outgrowth of those interactions with the primary goal of communicating useful and understandable scientific explanations of athletic performance. PRELIMS.pdf Preface Acknowledgements Author biography CH001.pdf Chapter 1 Introduction and 1-D and 2-D motion What is science? 1-D motion Average speed and types of motion How many paths for the runner? 2-D projectile motion and trajectories of baseballs CH002.pdf Chapter 2 Energy and conservation Work and kinetic and potential energy Conservation of energy Energy conservation in pole vaulting Stored energy, energy for activities, and calories Energy rates and power Kinetic energy, collisions, and protective gear CH003.pdf Chapter 3 What did Newton say about force? Force and Newton(s) All that friction Centripetal force Centripetal forces in sport What a drag CH004.pdf Chapter 4 Momentum, collisions, and sweet spot Sweet spot Conservation of linear momentum Conservation of momentum—it’s the law CH005.pdf Chapter 5 All that spin: angular motions and angular momentum Angular speed Angular acceleration—all that change in angular velocity Triple axel Rotation and conservation of angular momentum CH006.pdf Chapter 6 Effects of fluids in sport Buoyancy The curveball and a bender in soccer The knuckleball Tom Brady and Deflategate CH007.pdf Chapter 7 Wave action Wave action Hear the stadium roar Red, green, yellow, or blue? CH008.pdf Chapter 8 Doping in sport Performance enhancement in baseball Not your grandparents’ football CH009.pdf Chapter 9 Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, concussions, and knee injuries CTE Iron Mike Torn ligaments CH010.pdf Chapter 10 Special topics Need for speed Extreme, extreme sports References