Sports Science Projects: The Physics of Balls in Motion (Science Fair Success)

Features

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Library Binding: 128 pages
• Published by: Enslow Publishers October 1999
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0766011747
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0766011748
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Weighs: 12 ounces

From School Library Journal
Grade 6-10-This well-organized, clearly written series title will get readers thinking about why a baseball has stitches, why a tennis ball has fuzz, and how a Ping-Pong ball will change if its center is filled. Exciting experiments demonstrate the differences among the types of balls used in sports and the relationship between design and performance. Many of the experiments are followed by great ideas for science-fair projects. Black-and-white diagrams and drawings illustrate the concepts discussed. This valuable, practical resource encourages exploration and experimentation.
Paul Bielich, Northwestern High School, Detroit, MI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Goodstein provides nearly forty projects involving sports balls that demonstrate the principles of physics. She describes the composition of each ball (baseball, basketball, football, golf, rubber, and tennis), its rebound rating, the effects of temperature on its bounce, and several other properties. She also explains the Magnus effect and the Bernoulli principle. Most experiments are easy to perform and use readily available equipment. Appropriate cautions are noted when demonstrations require drilling, sawing, or fire. The most appealing parts of the book are the explanations of how physical principles affect sporting techniques--for example, the reason for the dimples on a golf ball. This book in the Science Fair Success series should find an audience among sports enthusiasts and reluctant science fair participants. A bibliography and a list of Web sites are appended. Kay Weisman