Relevant article: Mining the Internet for Physics Data: Sports Equipment
| Topic/Summary | Physics Concepts | Difficulty | Files | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Use NTSB data from a runway overrun to reproduce their conclusions. (Photo courtesy NTSB.) | 1D Kinematics | Medium | |
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Use data from a study of shot putting speed and height vs. angle to determine optimum launch angle. (Photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Matthew L. Romano, courtesy U.S. Navy.) | Projectiles | Medium | |
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Consider the optimum angle for engine exhaust from a dragster. (Photo by Lt. Col. William Thurmond, courtesy U.S. Army.) |
Force | Medium* *derivative used |
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Use Car and Driver data to find power delivered by Mustang’s engine. (Photo by A. Syed, courtesy Stock.XCHNG images.) |
Energy Force |
Medium | |
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Find energy delivered by the three NOAA classes of hail. (Photo courtesy NOAA Photo Library.) | Energy Force |
Easy | |
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Use EPA test schedules to examine hybrid fuel efficiency. (Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.) | Energy | Medium | |
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Use data gathered from commercial racket manufacturers to investigate optimum racket mass. (Photo by Chris Pawl.) | Momentum Energy |
Difficult | |
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Investigate why the Martin Jetpack needs 5x the hp of a personal helicopter. (Photos courtesy Martin Aircraft Company (left) and GEN Corporation (right).) | Momentum Energy |
Medium | |
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Consider why cranes with two-element booms preferentially move the top part and look at the force required to stabilize that part. | Statics | Medium | |
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Use data from the 2000 Olympics to investigate the impulse delivered to a vaulter by the vaulting horse. (Photo by Raphael Goetter, courtesy Flickr.) | Impulse Force Projectiles |
Difficult | Short Version (PDF)Long Version (PDF) |
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Use data from high-speed video to investigate the difference between the time-averaged and distance-averaged force acting on a tennis ball impacting a surface. | SHM Force Impulse Work |
Difficult |