PHYSICS OF SPORTS
A tenth of a second, a single inch, or a slightly different angle can make all the difference in a sporting event. Application of physical principles to competitive sport, leading to a better understanding of performances in such sports as track and field, cycling, archery, golf, football and basketball.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 103 , 201 , 207 , or 247 . Course Designation: Core GenEd - Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning Comm QR - Quantitative Reasoning B Breadth - Physical Science Level - Elementary L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain how sport performance is governed by universal physical principles. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Solve problems relevant to sport performance proficiently regarding both quantitative and qualitive applications of these physical principles. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Explain the significance of sport-related measurements and observations made in the presence of statistical and systematic uncertainties. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Communicate effectively with scientific peers and the public regarding physical principles and measurements and observations relevant to sport performance. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Be able to continue to educate themselves regarding the physical principles relevant to sport performance after completion of the course. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain how sport performance is governed by universal physical principles. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Solve problems relevant to sport performance proficiently regarding both quantitative and qualitive applications of these physical principles. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Explain the significance of sport-related measurements and observations made in the presence of statistical and systematic uncertainties. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Communicate effectively with scientific peers and the public regarding physical principles and measurements and observations relevant to sport performance. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Be able to continue to educate themselves regarding the physical principles relevant to sport performance after completion of the course. Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027