LEAFLET Football

front, outside, right of leaflet

DID YOU KNOW THAT

YOU CAN LEARN PHYSICS

THROUGH FOOTBALL?

Start to learn about some basic science involved in this game.

It looks at the following questions:

What are some examples in football of potential energy and kinetic energy?

What is 'collision' and what does it have to do with football?

http://sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com

GATEWAY TO SCIENCE:

SPORTS AND GAMES

Quincy, Mass.

inside, left

POTENTIAL ENERGY

and

KINETIC ENERGY

Potential energy is energy of position or place – where you are in the right place to do the job.

Kinetic energy is energy of motion – you are now in action.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU:

Where can you clearly observe potential energy & kinetic energy...

… at the line of scrimmage?

… when the quarterback is going to pass the ball?

... when the kicker is going for a point after touchdown?

inside, middle

WHAT IS COLLISION?

Collision is much more than an auto accident. 

 Collision happens whenever any two objects touch each other – 

whether it's a light touch or a hard touch. It ranges from:

elastic collision (with a lot of 'give') 

 …..............................to:..........................

inelastic (or non-elastic) collision (OUCH!, this has NO 'give'),

on a scale from 1 to 10 (see below).

Egg Toss (or Water Balloon) Contest: This is one example. 

If you throw the egg gently at close range, 

the catcher experiences elastic collision, say a 1.

On the other hand, if you throw the egg hard and at a distance, 

the egg might break (SPLAT!!) on the catcher; 

call this a 10 (completely non-elastic).

If, however, the catcher moves their hands back 

 (we call this 'giving with' the egg, or it has some 'give'), 

then it increases the distance and time – 

and may result in the egg not being broken. 

This moves it back toward the elastic range, 

and the collision might be a 7.

inside, right

WHAT DO WATER BALLOONS AND EGGS 

HAVE TO DO WITH FOOTBALL?

Playing a water balloon or egg toss game could be a good way to learn how to minimize injuries. First of all, minimizing injury is the reason that helmets and padding are worn. More than equipment is involved in protecting against injury, though.

Knowing how to fall is another way. If a player falls hard on the ground, injury may result. However, if he can roll – thereby extending the time and distance of impact – he is more likely to emerge unharmed.

You know the boxing term,

roll with the punches?

That's about collision!

outside, left

NOTES:

You could think of collision as being on a scale from 1 to 10: elastic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 nonelastic My scale may help you get the idea of collision.

_______________

Sports and games are the gateway to science, and YOU hold the key!

outside, center

Playing football...

is just one of endless ways to gain an understanding of physics and geometry. I hope this leaflet introduces you to seeing things you never saw before – or wondered about but just didn't know where to start.

Physics and geometry come into play in every activity and event going on around us.

Knowing how things work can add to your performance and to your fun. So give it a try. How?

• Start with the information here
• You may not understand everything in it right away, but for now, use what you do understand
• Do an online search of your own
• See what books or videos your library has
• Share them with friends, your class, your team, your scout troop
• Read my blog and tell others:
  sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com

Thank you! 

 Kathy Hogan