Bicycling provides excellent examples of motion for physics education. Road bikes demonstrate a combination of translational and rotational motion, while stationary bicycles demonstrate the rotational motion of the wheel. The graph below, excerpted from The Science of Exercise Equipment, Volume 1, shows the acceleration, force, and altitude changes associated with the rotational motion of a recumbent stationary bicycle.
Discussion Questions
What are the minimum and maximum points on each graph?
Why does the graph show acceleration in three directions of motion? Describe how each component, including x, y, and z, relates to the motion of the ankle.
What aspect of bicycle motion is normally modeled by a sine wave?
Can any of these graphs be modeled with a sine wave? Why or why not?
What is the period and frequency of the motion in the graph?
Does the athlete change speed during the motion recorded in the graph? Why or why not?
What is more useful for analyzing the motion of the wheel: a) the total force, b) the x, y, and z acceleration? Why?
What are the minimum and maximum values on the graph?
How much does the person weigh?
What might the graph look like if the person were jogging or running on the plate?
Discussion Questions
What does the graph above show?
What are the minimum and maximum values on the graph?
How fast is the person jogging in place?
What might the graph look like if the person were jogging forward?
What might the graph look like if the person were walking or running forward?
Discussion Questions
What does the graph above show?
What are the minimum and maximum values on the graph?
How fast is the person running?
What might the graph look like if the person were walking or jogging?
Each book in the series Walk, Jog, & Run: The Science of Athletic Trainingprovides additional graphs comparing walking, jogging, and running. Volume 3 also provides separate graphs for each body part, which may facilitate graphical analysis of motion.
The following books from Schottenbauer Publishing contain similar types of graphs and data pertaining to the science of athletic training:
Are you interest in learning about the science of physical fitness? Books from Schottenbauer Publishing provide detailed information about exercise science, suitable for education from elementary through high school and college/university classes. Selections include multi-volume series with graphs from athletic training, exercise equipment, and other sport topics, as well as anthologies of 28 graphs demonstrating a variety of mathematical functions related to specific sports topics! Plus, geometry workbooks contain action diagrams of athletic moves, providing exciting opportunities for children to learn about angles and measurement! Books are available from CreateSpace wholesale, as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and other internet retailers!
Schottenbauer Publishing also offers free blogs on specific sport science topics, featuring free graphs, discussion questions, and videos. Sport Science Blogs FREE!
