Bouncing, Curving and Spinning: The Science of Sports

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Last updated · 11 min play time

Every time you throw a pitch, take a shot, swing a bat or bounce a ball, you're using science! There's nothing more important to the performance on the field or the court than a firm understanding of the way things move. 

In this quiz, we're going to test your knowledge of the physics behind some of the most popular sports, from basketball to baseball to billiards. The more you know about how things move, the better you'll do on this ultimate test of sports science brain power


I'm a 3-time Emmy-winning game show producer, writer, director and published author. I dig traveling, watching hockey, photographing wildlife and exploring the cultural and social fabric of society.

Science of Sports Quiz Questions

20 Questions · 139 Plays · No comments

Question 1

In a band, the center of percussion might refer to the drummer right in the middle, But when talking about the science of tennis rackets, what happens when the ball hits the center of percussion?

  • A
    You're guaranteed to win the volley
  • B
    The ball will break the racket
  • C
    The hand feels the least vibrations
  • D
    It makes the loudest noise

Question 2

In skateboarding, when you kick off a curb to get yourself moving so you can start your rad routine, what law of physics are you demonstrating?

  • A
    Bernoulli's Principle
  • B
    Ohm's Law
  • C
    Archimedes Principle
  • D
    Newton's Third Law of Motion

Question 3

If you want to be an Olympic athlete, don't slack off during Physics class. In which of these Olympic sports is rotational - or angular - momentum NOT a key component to success?

  • A
    Figure skating
  • B
    Gymnastics
  • C
    Diving
  • D
    Sprinting

Question 4

As a cyclist cuts through the air, he produces a slipstream that trails behind him, which is then used by the cyclist behind him to make it easier to pedal. About how much less energy does a cyclist using a slipstream use?

  • A
    33%
  • B
    50%
  • C
    67%
  • D
    100%

Question 5

A basketball bouncing back to your hand when you dribble. A cue ball sending a numbered pool ball into the pocket. What physics principle are these examples of?

  • A
    Bouncy hard ball syndrome
  • B
    Inelastic collision
  • C
    Elastic collision
  • D
    Magnus effect

Question 6

In 2005, hard-hitting reporting by Scientific American magazine finally revealed why golf balls have dimples. What did they determine was the reason?

  • A
    Dimples just make them look cuter
  • B
    Dimples make it easier for the club to hit the ball
  • C
    Dimples prevent water from coating the ball
  • D
    Dimples decrease the wake on a ball

Question 7

Surfing is about more than being tan and using totally tubular slang words. There's actual science involved! What effect does having a curve at the end of a surfboard create?

  • A
    Bending
  • B
    Drafting
  • C
    Planing
  • D
    Flexing

Question 8

In archery, maintaining aerodynamics through wind resistance is a key component of keeping an arrow on target. What is the name for the fin-shaped feathers or plastic material that keeps arrows from veering off course?

  • A
    Fletching
  • B
    Striker
  • C
    Flutter
  • D
    Barbing

Question 9

In badminton, the shuttlecock is known for its featured, tapered end. What force is this feathered end specifically meant to produce?

  • A
    Lift
  • B
    Drag
  • C
    Acceleration
  • D
    Thrust

Question 10

The Magnus Effect has got to be the coolest-sounding effect in the physics world. Which of these is an example of the Magnus Effect in action?

  • A
    A Dodge Magnum winning a car race
  • B
    The sound a basketball swish makes
  • C
    A frisbee gliding straight through the air
  • D
    A pitcher's curveball

Question 11

To compete in the Olympics, you need to eat more calories a day than you would if you were just sitting at home writing trivia questions. Before the Beijing Olympics, how many calories did Michael Phelps claim to eat a day?

  • A
    8,000
  • B
    50,000
  • C
    12,000
  • D
    5,000

Question 12

Finish this quote from an article called "The Science of Sports" on the website Explain That Stuff: "Just as long jump is all about the conservation of angular momentum, so pole vaulting is about the conservation of..." what?

  • A
    Power
  • B
    Matter
  • C
    Energy
  • D
    Mass

Question 13

In real life, the term "impulse" usually applies to a split-second decision like whether to spend way too much money shopping online. But in the science of sports, which of these actions is a good example of the force known as "impulse"?

  • A
    A linebacker tackling another player
  • B
    A croquet player kneeling
  • C
    A long jumper jumping
  • D
    A hockey player skating

Question 14

When it comes to the sport of swimming, which of the following statements is more science fiction than science fact?

  • A
    You can swim faster in salt water than fresh water
  • B
    Swimming caps actually slow a swimmer down
  • C
    Champion swimmers can achieve a power of 1200 watts
  • D
    The force of buoyancy is always acting on a swimmer

Question 15

In bowling, math and science are all part of the fun. Assuming your odds of bowling a strike in any frame are 50-50, what are the odds of bowling 12 consecutive strikes - a perfect game?

  • A
    1 in 2
  • B
    1 in 840
  • C
    1 in 4096
  • D
    1 in 1244

Question 16

Bat corking in baseball is illegal because it can lead to a hitter hitting the ball farther than a regular bat. When a bat is corked, what difference will it have from a normal bat?

  • A
    It has a lower frequency
  • B
    It makes the bat longer
  • C
    It has a higher frequency
  • D
    No difference at all

Question 17

Whether a ball is thrown, kicked, or spiked, you're always trying to transfer as much kinetic energy from your body to the ball as possible. Which of the following balls has the most kinetic energy in it when moving with the same velocity?

  • A
    Golf ball
  • B
    Soccer ball
  • C
    Shot put
  • D
    Bocce ball

Question 18

They called him Air Jordan for a reason. When a basketball player jumps, he appears to hang in the air because momentum and gravity fight each other. About what percentage of the jumper's time is spent in the upper half of his jump?

  • A
    50%
  • B
    30%
  • C
    10%
  • D
    70%

Question 19

In parenting, the "trampoline effect" is how you keep your noisy kids busy during the long summer months. But in sports, what piece of equipment can perform differently depending on its "trampoline effect"?

  • A
    Badminton birdie
  • B
    Football helmet
  • C
    Basketball rim
  • D
    Baseball bat

Question 20

Speaking of baseball, a 2017 Washington Post article revealed that the average launch angle of a Major League batter when he hits the ball was what?

  • A
    25.9 degrees
  • B
    22 degrees
  • C
    88 degrees
  • D
    11.5 degrees

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