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Test an Athletic Device Science Projects (27 results)

Measure the performance of an athletic device. Test a device to see if it really works to boost a game's score or even experiment to improve it yourself. Or work on improving athlete safety by monitoring shocks to helmets during football or another contact game.

The Dynamics of a Bouncing Ball
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Many sports use a ball in some way or another. We throw them, dribble them, hit them, kick them, and they always bounce back! What makes a ball so bouncy? In this experiment you can investigate the effect of air pressure on ball bouncing. Read more
Bouncing Basketballs: How Much Energy Does Dribbling Take?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Playing basketball can be hard work. Players not only constantly run around the court, but just dribbling the basketball takes a lot of effort, too. Why is that? It has to do with how the basketball bounces. When the ball hits the court, its bounce actually loses momentum by transferring some of its energy into a different form. This means that to keep the ball bouncing, players must continually put more energy into the ball. In this sports science project, you will determine how high a… Read more
Basketball Physics: Where Does a Bouncing Ball's Energy Go?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Have you ever noticed that when you drop a basketball, its bounce does not reach the height you dropped it from? Why is that? When a basketball bounces, such as on a basketball court, its bounce actually loses momentum by transferring energy elsewhere. This means that to dribble the basketball, players must continually replace the transferred energy by pushing down on the ball. But what happens to the "lost" energy? As we know from physics, energy is not really lost, it just changes form. One… Read more
The 'Ultimate' Science Fair Project: Frisbee Aerodynamics
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Are you good at tossing a Frisbee®? It is great when you throw a perfect, arcing curve, right on target! If you can do that, you have already trained your arm on the aerodynamics of Frisbee flight. Why not treat your brain to some Frisbee science with this project? Read more
Skipping Science: An Experiment in Jump Rope Lengths
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Did you know that the world record for the greatest number of jumps in a minute is more than 340? That's more than five jumps a second! How close do you think you can get to that number? If you are going to try to break the record, it might be important to figure out how jump rope length affects your success. Try your hand at this skipping science fair project and jump-start your chances for a jump rope record. If you have a smartphone available, you can use its accelerometer and a sensor app… Read more
Baseball Bat Debate: What's Better, Wood or Aluminum?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
So baseball's your game? Well, slugger, science and math abound in baseball. Just look at the zillions of "stats." In this project, you can produce some interesting baseball statistics of your own and perhaps settle a long-standing debate. You'll set up experiments at your local playing field to find out which type of bat is better, wood or aluminum. Play ball, and batter up! Read more
Field Goal! The Science Behind a Perfect Football Kick
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Did you know that throwing, kicking, and punting a football all involve the science of projectile motion? A star NFL® quarterback, kicker, and punter each need to have a very good understanding of how a football moves through the air in order to help them win games. In this science project, you will set up a rubber band-powered catapult to represent a field goal kicker, and study how changing the distance from the goalposts affects how hard it is to accurately kick a field goal. 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
Why Do Flying Rings Go So Much Further Than Frisbees?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
If you've played catch with both Aerobie flying rings and Frisbees, you know that the rings fly much further than the Frisbees with the same throwing effort. Why is that? Investigate the aerodynamics of flying rings and flying disks and find out! Read more
The Biomechanics of Pitching
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
What do Nolan Ryan, Mark Wohlers, Armando Benitez, and Roger Clemens have in common? These men are all major league baseball pitchers who have pitched baseballs at 100 miles per hour or greater! What does it take to throw a baseball this fast? Does it come down to having the biggest muscles? Can a ball thrown this fast also be accurate? In this sports science fair project, you will learn about the biomechanics of pitching. Investigate how body position and physics interact to produce fast… Read more
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