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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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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The Physics of Gymnastics: Pendulum Motion and Circles

Physics divides motion into two general types: translational (straight) motion and rotational (curved) motion. Two types of rotational motion are prevalent in gymnastics: pendulum motion (swinging) and rotation (circles). 

The graphs below, excerpted from the science lab manuals Gravity, Springs, & Collisions: Graphs of Classical Physics Experiments from Schottenbauer Publishing, show patterns of motion from pendulum motion and circular motion.

Discussion Questions

1. What variables are present in Graphs 1? In Graph 2? Is it possible to compare motion using these variables?
2. In which dimensions is there motion in the top graph? In the lower graph?
3. Qualitatively describe the motion contained in these two graphs. What are the similarities? What are the differences?
4. Which types of gymnastics moves involve pendulum motion? How are these moves different from the motion described in Graph 1? 
5. Which types of gymnastics moves involve circular motion? How are these moves different from the motion described in Graph 2?

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 

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

Young audiences may be interested in the following series of geometry workbooks on gymnastics and related topics:

Geometry Workbooks

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

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Unbeatable Specials

With Kindle Unlimited ($9.99/month) at Amazon.com, you can read all e-books from Schottenbauer Publishing for no extra charge! Amazon offers Free 30 Day Trials of Kindle Unlimited. With this deal, trial members can read all Schottenbauer Publishing e-books free! This includes all the geometry workbooks, plus "The World in a Graph," "Alphabets of the World," textbooks on the science of music, all the e-book puzzles, and the educational novels by M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D.

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

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources