Jump to main content

Fifth Grade, Sports Science Projects, Lessons, Activities (36 results)

Search
Refine Results
Filter by
Sort by
How Fatigue Changes Balance
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Balance is one of the most important parts of how our bodies work. Even standing still requires the brain, muscles, eyes, and inner ears to coordinate perfectly. But what happens when you get tired—even just a little bit—from something like dancing, running, jumping in place, or doing step-ups for a short period of time? Many scientific studies show that fatigue—both mental and physical—can make balance worse. For example, after short bursts of physical activity, people… Read more
Nothing But Net: The Science of Shooting Hoops
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Swish! What a great sound when you hit the perfect shot and get nothing but net. Here's a project to get you thinking about how you can make that perfect shot more often. Read more
Think Fast!
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Are you a piano player or a video gamer? Then you might have a quick reaction time that can come in handy while playing sports. Find out how to measure your reaction time and compare it to your friends and family with this fun experiment. Read more
Aerodynamics of a Football
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
How much difference does the spiraling motion of a well-thrown football make on the distance of the throw (compared to wobbling, or end-over-end motion of the ball)? Think of a way to reproducibly produce the desired ball motion and launch it with a constant force to find out. (For more information on the physics, see Gay, 2004.) Read more
Do Heavy Loads Shorten Your Steps?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
You probably notice that when you carry something heavy—whether it’s a backpack filled with books, grocery bags, or a weighted vest—the way you walk changes. Your body adjusts in many ways to maintain balance, avoid fatigue, and reduce injury risk. One of these adjustments happens in your step length—that is, how far you move forward with each step. Biomechanical studies show that adding extra load (weight) often causes people to take shorter, more cautious steps. This… Read more
Drag Racing in the Water
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
It's fun to go swimming! To feel the power of your body as you launch yourself into the water. But did you know that swimming isn't just about skill and athleticism? The human body consists of skin, contours, and curves. How the water moves along your body and the clothing you are wearing determines how fast you can go. In this science fair project, you will investigate the effects of a force called drag. You will compare the time it takes to swim 25 meters in a swimsuit versus swimming the… Read more
Hey Gear Heads! The Physics of Bicycle Gear Ratios
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
If you have a multi-speed bike, you know that you can make it easier or harder to pedal just by shifting gears. Ever wonder how that works? You can investigate this a number of ways. A basic approach is to use a selection of spools of thread (with different diameters), a board with two nails, and a rubber band. Place a spool over each nail, and put the rubber band over them. Mark the 12:00 position on each spool so that you can count revolutions. Turn one spool through a full circle and… Read more
How Do Under-Inflated Tires Affect the Difficulty of Riding a Bike?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
If you ride a bike, you probably know that you have to occasionally pump up the tires to keep them fully inflated. Over a long period of time, the tires slowly leak air, so their pressure will decrease. Have you ever noticed that it is actually harder to ride a bike when the tire pressure is too low? This is because the tires are a big factor in the rolling resistance of the bike. In this sports science project, you will measure how tire pressure affects the force required to move a bike. How… Read more
How Fast Can You Shoot a Hockey Puck?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
You'll need: a puck, a hockey stick, a tape measure, at least one helper with a stopwatch and an empty rink. Have your friend start the watch just as you make contact with the puck, and stop it when the puck hits the boards. Measure the distance and divide by the time to get the speed of the puck. With two helpers and two stop watches, you can time the puck at center ice and at the far end. Are the speeds the same? How about if you don't follow through, but stop your stick as soon as it… Read more
How High Can You Throw a Baseball? A Tennis Ball? A Football? A Golf Ball?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
How high can you throw different types of balls, like a golf ball, a basketball, and a football? Would one of them go higher than the others? Do factors like mass, shape, and volume influence the final height? You can measure the approximate maximum height a thrown ball reaches by measuring the time it spends in the air. To do this project, you'll need at least one ball and a helper with a stopwatch. Your helper should start timing just as you release the ball, and stop right when the ball… Read more
< 1 2 3 4 >

Explore Our Science Videos

Quick Links X
Top
Free science fair projects.