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BOOK REVIEW
Rodale - 2004
Reviewed by Dr. Jonathan Dolhenty
If you're a football fan but don't know anything about physics, this book will teach you some things about physics you probably don't know but will enjoy learning. If you're a student of physics but don't know anything about football, this book will teach you some things about football you probably don't know but will enjoy learning. But if you're both a football fan and a student of physics well, then, this book will be a delightful read for you and you will learn some things about the "physics of football" you may not know but should know, if for no other reason than you can now show your family and friends how the principles and methods of physics are applicable to a popular human activity and one of our favorite pastimes. Now, don't get me wrong. You don't have to be a football fan or a student of physics to enjoy this book. In fact, if you don't fall into either of these categories, you may enjoy reading the book even more because you'll be learning about two unfamiliar subjects instead of just one. Consider it an exciting journey into the unknown. The author of "Football Physics: The Science of the Game" is eminently qualified to write the book. Dr. Timothy Gay played football at Caltech and earned a doctorate in atomic physics at the University of Chicago, and it is obvious from his writing that he remains a loyal fan of the game. Furthermore, there is no question about his talent in applying the principles of physics to an activity that most of us probably never realized had much in the way of scientific principles attached to it. Well, I was certainly surprised to learn just how much physics is involved in a game that hundreds of thousands of fans watch each week during the football season. And I suggest that all those high-school football players out there might profit immensely from taking some time out of practice to spend some time with Dr. Gay's book. Initially, we are introduced to Newton's First Law. Don't recall who Isaac Newton was? No matter. You'll know who he was and why he is important before you get to Chapter Two. Anyway, Newton's First Law simply says that "mass wants to continue doing what it's doing, whether it's at rest or in motion." What's that got to do with the game of football? Well, for one thing, it "provides the reasoning behind why quarterback sneak plays work if well timed." There's more involved here, of course, but you'll have to read the book to find out what. Then, there is Newton's Second Law which states that "the force applied to an object is the product of the object's mass and its acceleration." When you think of "mass" in the context of football, think Refrigerator Perry. The author explains how this great football player can be used to illustrate this second physical law. You'll also learn a lot about acceleration, speed, and velocity and why these are important to a scientific understanding of football. Finally, there is Newton's Third Law which says that "whenever two objects collide, no matter what their individual masses, no matter how fast they're going, they always exert the same amount of force on each other, but in opposite directions." Are you beginning to see how this might apply to football? Think of all those objects colliding at and beyond the line of scrimmage. At this point in the book, by the way, we haven't even reached Chapter Two yet. Since it is impossible for me to even begin to condense what the rest of the book holds, just let me tell you that you'll learn much about the "science" of blocking and tackling, about what effect altitude has on the flight of a kicked ball, about the ins and outs of football gear (do you know how helmets work?), what scientific principles are involved in kicking and passing a football, how and why the advent of artificial playing surfaces has changed the game, and a lot more. Do you know anything about the science behind the so-called "West Coast Offense" which was perfected by Joe Montana and Jerry Rice? No? You will after you read "Football Physics." This is a serious book, to be sure. After all, it is about a basic empirical science, physics, and the application of its principles and methods to a human activity. But it is a fun book, too. It is entertaining and easy to read and understand. Furthermore, Dr. Gay has provided numerous diagrams and charts to help illustrate the principles of physics as they apply to football. There are also some classic photographs of famous NLF players in action which aid in visualizing certain important points that the author is trying to make. Also included are a bibliography and notes, as well as a handy index, which even includes page references to the illustrations and photographs. The author also provides an appendix where he takes a more in-depth look at some important physics concepts and tools, and how they apply within the context of the game of football, including the Cartesian grid, the Pythagorean theorem, and vectors. Students of philosophy and mathematics please pay attention! You'll discover that philosophy and mathematics can be very practical pursuits indeed. Those who are not familiar with either philosophy or mathematics will be surprised to learn how things considered so "abstract" can also be so "practical." Without hesitation, I recommend "Football Physics" to all readers who like to explore new territory or investigate new fields of inquiry. You don't have to be a football fan to enjoy it. You don't have to be a student of physics to enjoy it. You just have to be an inquisitive reader who desires to learn more about how the discoveries of science impact our ordinary activities or, conversely, how our ordinary activities are better illuminated by understanding them in the light of scientific principles.
Football Physics: The Science of the Game, by Timothy Gay, Ph.D.
Enrich your life with a book about politics and current events... Enrich your political & social life with a politics or news magazine... |
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