What do physicists think about when they’re running? I’m currently training for my first marathon (gulp) which gives me a lot of time to think. Running around Sheffield, most of the time I think about how unfair it is that there is another hill and wonder why it is that the wind is always against […]
Using sport to teach science: interactive exhibits, Teachers TV and maths in sport
We have known for quite some time here at Sheffield Hallam University the value of using sport to teach science. Sport is ideal for grabbing people’s attention and getting them interested in science, engineering and technology. We often do public lectures which are always packed out by people interested in sport who also want to know more about […]
The Ashes: cricket ruled by Benford’s law
For those of you who don’t watch cricket, or even know what it is, it is often described to novices as an 11-a-side bat and ball game that lasts up to 5 days, sometimes ending in a draw. For cricket followers, though, a 5 day test match is a chance to immerse yourself in the […]
Predicting human performance – the Usain Bolt effect, electronics and war
A lot has been said about Usain Bolt – his brilliance, his stature and his music tastes. But the suggestion that he is the limit of human performance has been soundly rebuffed by sports scientists and statisticians alike. We did the same as many others and looked at previous performances to see if there was […]
Surfing the brachistochrone
I recently came across the term ‘brachistochrone‘ and wondered how I’d missed it, especially as Johann Bernoulli initially created it over 300 years ago in June, 1696. The brachistochrone is the solution to an intriguingly simple question: “Given two points A and B in a vertical plane, assign a path AMB to the […]
World Cup 2010: did altitude affect tactics?
Ok, I admit it – I’m a stats nerd. I love nothing better than perusing the league tables in the back pages of the Sunday papers, so imagine my delight when Prozone offered me the chance to analyse their data from the 48 games of the Group Stages of the 2010 World Cup. In a […]
FIFA on the line: the case for video technology
Come on FIFA – get a grip! A clear refereeing mistake like the one that denied the goal by Lampard (see the video if you missed it) must surely give the ruling body of international football the courage to implement video technology. Poor rules lead to poor decisions and in the case of goal line […]
Does altitude affect football tactics?
Last November, I proposed that for this Summer’s world Cup Altitude will be key, the thinner air in Johannesburg will cause the ball to behave significantly differently than at sea level. Less air resistance means faster shots and straighter trajectories. As part of a feature for the New Scientist (p35-37, June 5th 2010) we created […]
Get rid of referees!
A hundred years after the first football rules were set, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) met (on 6th March 2010) to discuss a number of footballing issues; these included the role of the 4th official and a “discussion on the latest developments concerning goal line technology”. FIFA dismissed the concept of goal line technology […]
The golden decade – next stop Vancouver 2010
It’s all downhill from here After the worst winter for 47 years, the snow has finally gone. I miss it already and now I’m looking forward to virtual winter from the comfort of my armchair courtesy of the BBC and the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Britain is not best suited for winter sports since we […]
Engineering Sport 