Graphing a Simple Gymnastics Move

What does a simple gymnastics move look like in a graph? A new video from Schottenbauer Publishing shows how a simple head roll can be graphed, using technology from Vernier.

The slides below, excerpted from the video, show the critical components of graphing. 

First, the video shows the motion of the head, with the corresponding graph:

Next, the video shows the motion of the hip, with the corresponding graph:

Finally, the video superimposes both graphs:

Discussion Questions

1. Which part is higher at the beginning? In the middle? At the end?
2. Which part moves the most during the video? Describe the motion in words.
3. Which part moves the most in the x axis? In the y axis? 
4. Does the graph capture the inversion of the head? If so, how?
5. Does the graph capture the rotation of the hip? If so, how?

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Science of Gymnastics Memorabilia

Celebrate sport science with memorabilia from Zazzle! Colorful graphs from Schottenbauer Publishing are featured on these mugs, magnets, keychains, & postcards. Direct links are included below:

     

A variety of other sport science collections are also available from Schottenbauer Publishing on Zazzle, which features regular sales on most items.  


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The Geometry of Gymnastics

Geometry is essential for gymnastics. Take a moment to write down a few ways in which geometry affects the precision of the sport. 

Discussion Questions

1. What data is necessary to collect in order to understand the role of geometry in gymnastic events? 
2. What spatial perspectives and/or mathematical planes are important for precision? 

The cover of The Geometry of Gymnastics, to the right above, features a gymnast in action. 

Discussion Questions

1. What angles can be measured on the diagram, in order to understand the accuracy of technique?  
2. Is any essential information missing from the picture? What is necessary in order to measure that information?

Geometry diagrams featuring gymnastics are available in the following books from Schottenbauer Publishing:

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Gymnastics
• The Geometry of Summer Olympic Sports

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Parallel Bars: Coordinated Video and Graph

What do gymnastic moves look like in a graph? Consider the following sample, excerpted from The Science of Gymnastics, Volume 4 from Schottenbauer Publishing:

The corresponding video, which includes moves on pommel horse, parallel bars, and rings, is included below:

Discussion Questions

1. How many swings are completed?
2. Describe the minimum and the maximum positions of the feet, knees, and hips.
3. What body part reaches the highest point in the graph?
4. Redraw the graph in real time (2x).

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Force & Acceleration in Gymnastics

Common gymnastics events can demonstrate the relationship between force and acceleration. Consider the following graphs, excerpted from The Science of Gymnastics: Volume 1 from Schottenbauer Publishing. Although both graphs demonstrate a similar phenomenon, these data were recorded on separate occasions.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the maximum force in the first graph? The second graph?
2. In the first graph, how long is the person in the air for each jump?
3. What is the maximum acceleration in the second graph (assuming that the x axis is vertical)?
4. In the first graph, where does the person begin? (a) On the floor, (b) On the force plate.
5. In the first graph, where does the person end? (a) On the floor, (b) On the force plate.
6. In theory, which requires more force? (a) Stretch Jump, (b) Bounding. 
7. In the first graph, which shows the most force? (a) Stretch Jump, (b) All Bounds, (c) Final Bound.
8. In the second graph, which shows the most force? (a) Stretch Jump, (b) All Bounds, (c) Final Bound.
9. In theory, which requires more acceleration? (a) Stretch Jump, (b) Bounding. 
10. In the second graph, which shows the most acceleration? (a) Stretch Jump, (b) All Bounds, (c) Final Bound.
11. In the second graph, what is the maximum height of the bounding?
12. Do these two graphs show similar technique? If not, describe the differences in words.

Additional graphs of force and acceleration, are available in the same volume, The Science of Gymnastics: Volume 1 from Schottenbauer Publishing. Similar physics data is also available in Volume 1 of several other lab manual series, including The Science of Athletic Training, The Science of Exercise Equipment, The Science of Yoga, Pilates, & Ballet, and more.

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Graphing Breathing Technique with a Spirometer

Breathing is essential for life, and proper breathing technique is essential for success in gymnastics. The following graph, excerpted from The Science of Gymnastics: Volume 2 from Schottenbauer Publishing, illustrates one of the most common breathing problems in gymnastics:

Discussion Questions

1. Describe the set of maximum values. 
2. Describe the set of minimum values.
3. What is the average maximum value?
4. What is the average minimum value?
5. Describe the set of times for the breathing cycle, beginning with inhale and ending with exhale.
6. What is the average length of the cycle in time?
7. What is the average length of time the breath is held?
8. Describe the breathing cycle in words, using a few sentences.

Additional graphs of breathing techniques, plus other biophysics variables, are available in the same volume, The Science of Gymnastics: Volume 2 from Schottenbauer Publishing. Similar biophysics data is also available in Volume 2 of several other lab manual series, including The Science of Athletic Training, The Science of Exercise Equipment, The Science of Yoga, Pilates, & Ballet, and more.

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Science of Gymnastics: Volume 4

A new volume of The Science of Gymnastics: Data & Graphs for Science Lab has arrived! Volume 4 features 24 brightly colored graphs depicting a variety of moves on pommel horse, parallel bars, and rings, plus handstands. Many of the moves are available for viewing in a series of free videos on the publisher's YouTube site under the playlist Gymnastics.

The graph below is excerpted from the Volume 4:

Discussion Questions

1. Describe the minimum and the maximum value for each variable.
2. How high do the feet travel? Are the feet ever higher than the hips? Than the head?
3. During this sequence of moves, are the legs straight? Is the body straight? 
4. Describe the initial and final positions of the legs.
5. Can the height of the parallel bars be determined from this graph? If so, what is it?
6. If this graph shows the swings slowed by 2x, what is the timing of the actual swings?

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Graphs Shed Light on the Science of Gymnastics

Gymnastics is an amazing sport, which can be studied scientifically in several different ways. First of all, there is a simple physics perspective on the sport: trajectory of movement, velocity, acceleration, and force. But gymnastics is much more complicated, and must include multiple aspects of the human body in order to develop a more comprehensive understanding of its movements. Biophysics data, including joint angles, electrical activity of the muscles (EMG) and heart (EKG), heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and lung capacity add additional perspective to the sport of gymnastics.

Real scientific data on gymnastics is now available to the public in a set of science lab books, The Science of Gymnastics, from Schottenbauer Publishing. These books, which are suitable for science classes from 7th grade through 12th grade, plus some college and university, offer a variety of samples of data from the above categories. The books can be integrated into math and science classes, plus physical education, health, and coaching sessions in extracurricular sports.

Several samples from the lab manuals (Copyright 2014; All Rights Reserved) are included below. 

Discussion Questions
1) For each graph, describe the range of x and y variables.
2) Which graph above provides the data most self-evident to observers of gymnastics?
3) On Graph 1, how many times does the gymnast bound? Is the force of bounding greater than the stretch jump? If so, why?
4) On Graph 2, what is greater, the electrical activity associated with dipping down or pushing up? What occurs after the dip has been completed?
5) On Graph 3, how high is the ankle during the V-Sit, in comparison to the ankle during the L-Sit? How long is the leg? What is the angle of the V-Sit?

Data such as those above can be obtained in several series of science and math books by M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D. The first set of books are multi-volume series of graphs. Selections from these lab manuals have also been collected into anthologies: 

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Gymnastics
• The Science of Athletic Training 
• The Science of Exercise Equipment 
• The Science of Yoga, Pilates, & Ballet 

     Each of these series contains multiple volumes, with the following content:

• Volume 1: Force & Acceleration
• Volume 2: Biophysics (Joint Angles, EKG/EMG, Heart Rate/BP, & Breathing)
• Volume 3: Video Analysis

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Gymnastics
• The Science of Summer Olympic Sports
• The Science of Physical Fitness
• The Science of Dance & Ballet
• The Science of Yoga

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How to Make Homemade Gymnastics Equipment: Parallel Bars, Pommel Pod, and Pommel Horse

Gymnastics is a fantastic sport with a high price tag. Many people cannot participate in formal gymnastics due to the time and distance required to travel to a gymnasium, or the cost of purchasing equipment for home practice. Fortunately, some gymnastics equipment can be easily made from common construction equipment, allowing self-taught students to practice some simple, basic moves. A new YouTube video, How to Make Homemade Gymnastics Equipment: Parallel Bars, Pommel Pod, and Pommel Horse, shows viewers how to make gymnastics equipment out of saw horses, fence rails, parachute rope, and a few other common items. The video provides basic guidelines for construction, plus pictures (such as those shown below) and reminders to practice reasonable safety precautions.

Update: A new YouTube video by the same author demonstrates basic gymnastics exercises on these pieces of homemade equipment.

CAUTION! Gymnastics is dangerous. Homemade equipment must be made appropriately, or else additional risk of injury or death may result.

Sample Photos

Additional information on the science of gymnastics is available on the Schottenbauer Publishing website. Books include the following:

Geometry Series

• The Geometry of Gymnastics
• The Geometry of Summer Olympic Sports

Graphs & Data for Science Lab (Book Series)

• The Science of Gymnastics
• The Science of Athletic Training
• The Science of Exercise Equipment

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Gymnastics
• The Science of Summer Olympic Sports
• The Science of Athletic Training

The Schottenbauer Publishing website also offers Free Samples, information on additional athletics books, and links to webpages on sport science.

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The Science of Gymnastics: Exploring the Possibilities!

The science and math of gymnastics are topics of new books from Schottenbauer Publishing. Presenting data from real moves collected by the science writer and publisher M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D., these books bring the "high tech" end of gymnastics to audiences everywhere!

In these books, students can enjoy learning about common moves from gymnastics, including floor, vault, high bar, rings, parallel bars, and pommel horse. One series of books, written for elementary school students, focuses on geometry. Two series of science books feature graphs and data; these illustrate common mathematical functions, plus a variety of concepts from physics and biophysics. The science books can be integrated into classes such as math, physical science, physics, physical education, and health, anywhere from 7th grade through high school, as well as some introductory college and university classes. 

The books which include gymnastics include the following:

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Gymnastics
• The Geometry of Summer Olympic Sports 

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Gymnastics
• Volume 1: Force & Acceleration
• Volume 2: Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Gymnastics
• The Science of Summer Olympic Sports

These books are complemented by a series of science books on other popular sports topics, including Olympic sports, athletic training, exercise equipment, yoga, and more. Topics related to gymnastics include:

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Yoga
• The Geometry of Ballet

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Athletic Training 
• Volume 1: Force & Acceleration
• Volume 2: Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis
• The Science of Exercise Equipment 
• Volume 1: Force & Acceleration
• Volume 2: Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis
• The Science of Yoga, Pilates, & Ballet 
• Volume 1: Force & Acceleration
• Volume 2: Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Physical Fitness
• The Science of Dance & Ballet
• The Science of Yoga

Most of the books above are available in both English and German translation. The books pertaining to the geometry of Olympic sports are also available in 15 world languages. 

The same publisher offers similar books on additional popular topics, including sports, transportation, construction, environment, music, entertainment, and general physics. All of these book series are available in several formats and languages, including the following:

Geometry Workbooks

• Print & E-Book Editions
• Available in English & German
• Olympics Books Available in 15 Languages

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• Print Editions
• Available in English & German

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• Print Editions
• English Only

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