With the Olympic Games in full swing, kids are probably highly interested in sports right now. It’s the perfect time for middle grade readers to investigate The Secret Science of Sports: The Math, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering Behind Every Grand Slam, Triple Axel, and Penalty Kick by Jennifer Swanson.
Imagine that a pitcher throws a baseball toward you. Think of all things that need to happen for you to hit it with a bat. Your eyes watch the pitcher and the baseball as he or she winds up. Your brain must figure out the speed of the ball, its direction, and angle. Then your brain sends signals to your muscles to reposition the bat to correctly connect with the ball to make it go in the direction you want with the force you want. Understanding the concepts of science, technology, engineering, and math will help make that happen better every time.
The book covers a wide range of topics using examples from a variety of sports. Starting with how body type affects athletic performance, you will learn about such things as the aerodynamics behind competitive swimsuits, how advances in the chemistry of carbon have led to faster bicycles and better tennis rackets, to how to test reaction time.
Bottom line:
Not everyone is an Olympic athlete, but everyone benefits from exercise. The Secret Science of Sports is likely to get young readers off the couch, away from the screen, and outside trying some of the activity suggestions. It’s a win-win.
See Growing with Science blog for the full review.
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