If you want to do a sports-related science fair project, you're in luck. We have projects related to soccer, baseball, football, tennis, hockey, and more. As the following project ideas illustrate, there are many interesting ways to apply science to sports. Who knows, by thinking scientifically about your favorite sport, your science fair project might even help you become a better athlete!
Most of the projects span multiple scientific categories. We've grouped the projects into the following categories:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bicycling
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Sports and Human Behavior
- Tennis
- Throwing, Kicking, Hitting, and Bouncing
- Winter Sports (Skiing, Skating, and Hockey)
Do you ever feel like you need to walk faster than your parents just to keep up with them? This is because of the difference in leg length between you and your parents. How much faster do you need to walk than your parents? Can you use a walking test to determine how tall a person is?
Mike Powell of the United States currently holds the world record for the long jump at 8.95 meters, which is almost 30 feet! How did he jump so far? In this experiment, learn how a long jumper uses momentum from running to jump farther than the competition.
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.
The Brain-Body Connection: Can Exercise Really Make Our Brains Work Better?
"Use it or lose it!" Sure, we all know physical exercise is important to keeping our bodies fit. But how important is physical exercise to your brain? In other words, is there any connection between an active body and increased brain power? This is an easy project where you can test the effect of exercise on a critical brain function: memory.
Under Pressure: Ball Bouncing Dynamics
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.
Nothing But Net: The Science of Shooting Hoops
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.
Tee Time: How Does Tee Height Affect Driving Distance?
If you're an avid golfer, this might be a fun project for you. When you're setting up to tee off out on the course, how much attention do you pay to putting the tee in the ground? The height of the tee can affect both where in the swing the club makes contact and where on the clubface the ball makes contact. Are you placing your tees at the right height to get the most distance from your swing?
Golf Clubs, Loft Angle, and Distance
If your idea of a great weekend morning is taking some practice swings at a driving range, or heading out to the links to play a round, this could be a good project for you. This project is designed to answer the question, what is the relationship between club loft angle and the distance that the ball travels when struck.
Which Team Batting Statistic Predicts Run Production Best?
Here's a sports science project that shows you how to use correlation analysis to choose the best batting statistic for predicting run-scoring ability. You'll learn how to use a spreadsheet to measure correlations between two variables.
A Cure for Hooks and Slices? Asymmetric Dimple Patterns and Golf Ball Flight
Have you ever wondered why golf balls have a pattern of dimples on their surface? The dimples are important for determining how air flows around the ball when it is in flight. The dimple pattern, combined with the spin imparted to the ball when hit by the club, greatly influence the ball's flight path. For example, backspin generates lift, prolonging flight. When the ball is not hit squarely with the club, varying degrees of sidespin are imparted to the ball. A clockwise sidespin (viewed from the top) will cause the ball to veer right (or slice). A counterclockwise sidespin will cause the ball to veer left (or hook). This project attempts to answer the question, "Can an asymmetric dimple pattern decrease hooks and slices?"
Are More Expensive Golf Balls Worth It?
There is a bewildering selection of different golf balls to choose from for playing the game. Some less expensive, some more expensive, all with different claims for the advantages they will bring to your game. This project can help you determine which type of golf ball is right for you.
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