The Physics of Football: Discover the Science of Bone-Crunching Hits, Soaring Field Goals, and Awe-Inspiring Passes

by Timothy Gay PhD

Overview

Do you cringe when a linebacker flattens a quarterback? Hold your breath when a field goal sails toward the goalpost? Watch in amazement as a touchdown pass spirals down the field? Behind those big hits, long kicks, and sensational throws is a science that will give you a whole new perspective on the game of football.

A combination of Stephen Hawking and Mike Ditka, physicist and football fan Timothy Gay breaks down the fundamental laws of physics that govern America's most exciting spectator sport. To illustrate the science behind the game, he highlights some of football's recent memorable moments, along with legendary feats from the likes of Franco Harris and Joe Montana.

Did you Know?

• Newton's Second Law of Physics proves that Dick Butkushit running backs with the force of a small killer whale.
• The average force with which a football must be kickedduring kickoff is 450 lbs. But for an instant, the force maybe as much as a ton.
• Shaun Rogers, firing off the line of scrimmage, can developas much as four horsepower by himself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060826345
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/16/2005
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	1,132,383
Product dimensions:	5.31(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.69(d)

What People are Saying About This

Bill Belichick

“Whether your primary interest is popular science or pro football, you will enjoy FOOTBALL PHYSICS.”

Brad Minerd

“I think we’ll be seeing this book in a lot of NFL locker rooms.”

Robert K. Adair

“Football Physics is great fun. It taught me more about football than 50 years of watching the game.”

Chuck Bednarik

“I didn’t need physics when I played, but maybe some of these young guys do...”

Editorial Reviews

Football Physics is great fun. It taught me more about football than 50 years of watching the game.” — Robert K. Adair, Ph.D., author of Physics of Baseball

“I didn’t need physics when I played, but maybe some of these young guys do...” — Chuck Bednarik, Hall of Fame center/linebacker

“Whether your primary interest is popular science or pro football, you will enjoy FOOTBALL PHYSICS.” — Bill Belichick, head coach, New England Patriots

“I think we’ll be seeing this book in a lot of NFL locker rooms.” — Brad Minerd, producer, NFL films

From the Publisher

Football Physics is great fun. It taught me more about football than 50 years of watching the game.

Robert K. Adair

I didn’t need physics when I played, but maybe some of these young guys do...

Chuck Bednarik

Whether your primary interest is popular science or pro football, you will enjoy FOOTBALL PHYSICS.

Bill Belichick

I think we’ll be seeing this book in a lot of NFL locker rooms.

Brad Minerd

Few former NFL running backs will be surprised to learn that Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus tackled with the force of a small killer whale. But, for the rest of us, the scientific revelations of Dr. Timothy Gay's The Physics of Football will be new -- and purely painless. Did you know, for instance, that if Detroit Lions' speed demon Barry Sanders continued to accelerate at his usual rate, he would soon be traveling faster than the speed of sound? Required reading for Monday morning quarterbacks.