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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Examining Periodicity with a Goniometer

Gymnastic routines involve many types of repetitive motions. In graphs, repetitive motions tend to appear as sine wave functions. Sometimes, multiple sine wave functions must be added, in order to create more complex graphs. A form of advanced mathematics called Fourier analysis allows scientists to analyze oscillation which is more complicated than a simple sine wave.

The following graph is excerpted from The Science of Gymnastics: Volume 2 from Schottenbauer Publishing.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the smallest angle of contraction of the arm? What is the largest angle?
2. Counting from the bottom of the first trough, what is the amplitude of the first oscillation? What is the amplitude of the second oscillation?
3. Counting from the bottom of the first trough, what is the wavelength of the first oscillation? What is the wavelength of the second oscillation?
4. In the first two oscillations, what is the average frequency of oscillation?
5. What occurs at the end of the graph?

Additional graphs of oscillatory motion in gymnastics are available in the same volume, The Science of Gymnastics: Volume 2 from Schottenbauer Publishing. Similar physics 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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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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Schottenbauer Publishing

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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

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.

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

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