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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Project Ideas: The Biomechanics of Pitching

For Students 9th - 10th
The goal of this sports science fair project is to learn more about the biomechanics of baseball pitching. The student will investigate if stepping forward and the length of the step affects the speed of the pitch. The Science Buddies...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Project Ideas: Popping an Ollie: Skateboards and Physics

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this science fair project, investigate the effect of speed on the distance and height of the skateboard trick the "ollie". The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Project Ideas: Paintball Ballistics

For Students 9th - 10th
In this science fair project, use a paintball gun to compare the calculated vs. the actual range of a projectile. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and introduction, followed...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Pump It Up: Mountainboarding Speed and Control

For Students 6th - 8th
Are you a "lawn shredder"? Do you like nothing better than carving a sweet path down a mountain on your souped-up skateboard? If so, then this mountain boarding sports science fair project is for you. You'll investigate tire pressures...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Speed Quest

For Students 3rd - 8th
In this sports science fair project, you will find out how to compute speeds needed to achieve world records. Not only that, but you'll learn what speed is, and how to measure it in almost anything that moves. So head for the track,...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Drag Racing in the Water

For Students 3rd - 8th
It's fun to go swimming. To feel the power of your body as you launch yourself into the water. But did you know that swimming isn't just about skill and athleticism? The human body consists of skin, contours, and curves. How the water...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: She Shoots, She Scores!

For Students 6th - 8th
While watching an ice hockey game, have you ever wondered what differentiates a good player from a great player? For sure, the great player is athletically superior to the good player. But maybe it is a combination of athleticism and...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: How Blue Is Your Sports Drink?

For Students 9th - 10th
Do you read the list of ingredients in foods and drinks before you buy them at the grocery store? If you do, you may have noticed that many of the items that are blue in color have the same dye, called FD&C blue 1. In this chemistry...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: You Are What You Eat!

For Students 6th - 8th
Thinking about improving your sports performance? Want to help friends and family make the most of their physical fitness activities? One factor to consider is food. Whether you realize it or not, what you eat does change your body. It...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Do Males and Females Play the Same Types of Games?

For Students 3rd - 8th
There are many different types, or genres, of computer and video games. This includes racing, fighting, sports, adventure, and puzzle games. Survey your classmates in this science fair project to find out if certain genres of games...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Pinocchio's Arm: A Lie Detector Test

For Students 6th - 8th
You might be surprised to learn that you have been practicing skills closely tied to lying if you have ever seen someone in pain, or mimicked your favorites sports athlete. In this science fair project, you will discover how your brain...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Can Your Body Temperature Tell the Time of Day?

For Students 9th - 10th
If you have ever had to adjust to a new time zone, you have noticed that it takes a while before you start to feel normal again. By shifting your sleep and activity schedule, you have altered the pattern of your body's circadian rhythms....
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Which Team Batting Statistic Predicts Run Production Best?

For Students 9th - 10th
Here's a sports science project that shows you how to use correlation analysis to choose the best batting statistic for predicting run-scoring ability. You'll learn how to use a spreadsheet to measure correlations between two variables.
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Jumping Distance

For Students 9th - 10th
With this Science Buddies experiment, you will see if you can jump farther if you increase the distance you run before you jump The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Skipping Science: An Experiment in Jump Rope Lengths

For Students 9th - 10th
A great experiment to determine how different lengths of rope influence the rate of jumping with the rope. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and introduction, followed by a...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Under Pressure: Ball Bouncing Dynamics

For Students 6th - 8th
Many sports use a ball in some way or another. We throw them, dribble them, hit them, kick them, and they always bounce back. What makes a ball so bouncy? In this experiment you can investigate the effect of air pressure on ball bouncing.
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Think Fast!

For Students 3rd - 5th
Are you a piano player or a video gamer? Then you might have a quick reaction time that can come in handy while playing sports. Find out how to measure your reaction time and compare it to your friends and family with this fun experiment.
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Heart Health: How Does Heart Rate Change With Exercise?

For Students 6th - 8th
Your heart starts beating before you are born and keeps right on going through your whole life. Over an average lifetime, the human heart beats more than 2.5 billion times. Keeping your heart healthy means eating right, not smoking, and...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Golf Clubs, Loft Angle, and Distance

For Students 9th - 10th
If your idea of a great weekend morning is taking some practice swings at a driving range, or heading out to the links to play a round, this could be a good project for you. This project is designed to answer the question, what is the...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies:skateboard Extremes:which Wheels Are Best for Speed & Turns?

For Students 9th - 10th
You can cruise and carve while you investigate which skateboard wheels produce the fastest (and slowest) rides on your terrain in these experiments. You pick the wheels and design the tests you think will produce the most extreme results...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Power Kicks: The Physics of Martial Arts

For Students 9th - 10th
If the discipline, precision, and power of martial arts is your bag, try this project out for size. You won't be sparring with any opponent other than a swinging kick bag, but you'll learn a few powerful lessons about the physics of...
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Baseball Bat Debate: What's Better, Wood or Aluminum?

For Students 9th - 10th
Science and math abound in baseball. In this project, you can produce some interesting baseball statistics of your own and perhaps settle a long-standing debate. You'll set up experiments at your local playing field to find out which...
Lesson Plan
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Nothing but Net: The Science of Shooting Hoops

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Swish. What a great sound when you hit the perfect shot and get nothing but net. Here's a project to get you thinking about how you can make that perfect shot more often.
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Science Buddies

Science Buddies: How Fast Can You Shoot a Hockey Puck?

For Students 6th - 8th
In this project, you'll need: a puck, a hockey stick, a tape measure, at least one helper with a stopwatch and an empty rink. Have your friend start the watch just as you make contact with the puck, and stop it when the puck hits the...