Science at the Olympics?
Have you been watching the Olympics?
Gravity-defying flips, super speed, horses that can dance, and arrows and bullets that fly with precision—it’s the most famous sports event in the world!
Every two years, athletes from around the globe gather to test their skills against each other and the elements to prove who is best, at least on that particular day. Because lots of things can affect an athlete’s performance, as we’ve seen from this year’s news of quarantined individuals, super stars withdrawing from events to focus on mental health, and even tripping!
One new event this year is skateboarding. And what is necessary for skateboarding? Helmets! Well, actually, physics. Science is a huge part of sports. Gravity, friction, inertia, and Newton’s laws of motion are all at work in any sport, and skateboarding is no different. How do you think riders’ feet stay on the boards? Why can some people go higher than others when jumping? It’s all because of physics.
Our forthcoming book, The Physics of Fun, looks deeply at the science behind several different sports, including snowboarding, skateboarding, and trampolining. It also includes a look at the electronics behind video games and what creates the sound produced during a rock concert.
By using real-world activities that kids love to engage them in a truly compelling STEM discussion, we can help build that foundation of scientific understanding that is critical for the leaders of tomorrow!
Look below for a sample chapter, and preorder this very cool book here! Coming in October
Download a sample chapter! Hands-on activities go hand-in-hand with engaged reading!
