Jennifer Swanson - The Secret Science of Sports: The Math, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering Behind Every Grand Slam, Triple Axel, and Penalty Kick

Copyright 2021 by Jennifer Swanson

Interior illustrations 2021 by Laurne Boglio

Cover design by Laurne Boglio

Cover copyright 2021 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.

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First Edition: July 2021

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Swanson, Jennifer, author.

Title: The secret science of sports : the math, physics, and mechanical engineering behind every grand slam, triple axel, and penalty kick / Jennifer Swanson.

Description: First edition. | New York : Black Dog & Leventhal, 2021. | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Audience: Ages 812 | Summary: For kids ages 8 to 12, The Science of Sports combines kid-friendly language and vibrant, original illustrations to show how principles of STEM are behind every soccer kick, slap shot, home run, and slam dunkProvided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020035793 (print) | LCCN 2020035794 (ebook) | ISBN 9780762473038 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9780762473014 (ebook) | 9781549108501 (audiobook)

Subjects: LCSH: Sports sciencesJuvenile literature.

Classification: LCC GV558 .S93 2021 (print) | LCC GV558 (ebook) | DDC 796.01/5dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020035793

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020035794

ISBNs: 978-0-7624-7303-8 (trade paperback); 978-0-7624-7302-1 (hardcover); 978-0-7624-7301-4 (ebook)

E3-20210607-JV-NF-ORI

To my brothers Steve, Ted, and Jeff, who I spent many fun hours with in the backyard playing every sport we could think of, and even ones we thought up.

IF YOU PICKED up this book, its probably because you like sports. Maybe you want to see if it has tips for how to improve your game (it does), or how to become more fit (it has that, too), or just because you want to learn more about different types of sports (also there). But wait, the title says, the Science of Sports. That means this book also teaches you about science. Why does a sports book have science in it? Those two subjects seem so different. Its not as if sitting in a science class can teach you more about your sport than practicing it. Actually, it can. Does that surprise you? It shouldnt. Science and, in particular, STEM topics (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) can teach you tons of stuff about how to get better at sports.

While many people dont realize it, every sport involves a bit of each of those topics. In fact, if you play sports you are already doing STEM, every time you play! Playing sports and science go together like, well, a bat and a ball, or a tennis ball and a racket, or a hockey puck and a stick You get the idea. Understanding science helps you with sports. (Shhh dont tell anyone. Thats the secret part.) Put it this way: Do you throw a ball? Thats physics. Do you play on a team? That falls into the neuroscience category (science of the brain). Do you keep statistics about how many times you catch a football or make a basket? Thats math. And if you wear any type of equipmenta helmet, running shoes, cleats, shoulder or knee padsthose were designed using engineering. Thats right! STEM = Sports. Bet you thought science class was just for learning about biology and chemistry. (Hint: Those are also found in sports.)

So, this is a book about STEM and Sports? Hold on. Is it boring? Well, you might think that a book about STEM isnt exactly exciting. But you would be WRONG. The science, technology, engineering, and math of SPORTS is actually pretty cool, and very interesting, too.

Besides being cool, this book may help you get better at sports. Its true. The information in this book, combined with some practice, could help you to sink more free throws, hit a ball farther, or even cut a few seconds off your overall performance time. Why not give it a shot? (But not a kick or a throw. Books dont like that.)

So, keep reading and learn how to get your best game on with the science of sports!

SCIENCE PLAYS SUCH a big part in sports, its hard to pick which topics to discuss. This chapter will deal with body science, brain science, and fitness and nutrition science. These are biological and life sciences and seemed to be the ones most people have questions about. But, of course, there are many more science aspects of sports. If you dont see something here, go look it up!

Lets start with body science. Can anyone play any sport? The quick answer is yes. If you have determination to learn, understand, and spend lots of time practicing, you can play any sport you want. The question that might be a better one to ask is: Do certain physical traits (big hands, big muscles, speed, agility) help you perform better at a particular sport? Yes, they can. Below is an illustration that might give you an idea of what physical traits help with which sports. Basically, this illustration says that athletes who excel at basketball, wrestling, or weight lifting tend to be taller and have large muscular bodies. A world-class gymnast, runner, or boxer, however, might be shorter and have a smaller body.

Why are these body types considered to be the preferred ones for each sport? It comes down to physics. A larger person may have more energy and can push people away from them with more force, like in football or wrestling. They may be able to hit the volleyball or tennis ball harder across the net. Perhaps their force of pulling on the oar is so great that it propels the boat farther across the water, as in rowing or crew. But larger people also have to deal with more drag, that is, the force acting against them when they move through a fluid, such as air or water.

Smaller people are going to have less drag. That makes sense, doesnt it? Their bodies are more petite, so they would have to push through a lot less air or water as they move. That is one reason why many world-class runners are small and lean. They can run faster because the force of drag doesnt slow them down as much as it would a larger person.