• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Click here to download the  free ebook of Alberto Juantorena’s  detailed training workouts leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics

SpeedEndurance.com

Success in Track & Field ... and Life

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Track & Field
    • 400 meters
    • 800m & Mile
    • 1/2 & Full Marathons
    • Long & Triple Jump
    • Hurdles
  • Training
    • Weight Training
    • Abs & Core
    • Injury Prevention
    • Shoes & Spikes
    • Masters
  • Coaching
    • Freelap Friday Five
    • Interviews
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Sport Psychology
  • Archives
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Basket

Introduction to the Physics of Sports

You are here: Home / Book Reviews / Introduction to the Physics of Sports
287
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

March 14, 2013 by Vassilios McInnes Spathopoulos 16 Comments

Last Updated on February 13, 2015 by Jimson Lee

If you liked the “back to school” articles on How much Horsepower does Usain Bolt Generate? and How do you determine the Worlds Fastest Man? then you’ll enjoy this Kindle book.

An Introduction to the Physics of Sports is written by University lecturer Dr. Vassilios McInnes Spathopoulos, who presents the physical mechanisms governing a series of popular sports, including Track and Field.

An Introduction to the Physics of Sports - Dr Vassilios McInnes Spathopoulos

The author’s goal is twofold:

On the one hand to give a new perspective on sport, enabling fans, even those with limited scientific knowledge, to gain a better idea of exactly how athletic performances are achieved.

On the other hand, the presentation of the basic concepts of physics through sport is an attractive and popular way for the general public to assimilate these concepts:

  • the concepts of speed and acceleration are presented through the performance of top athletes such as Usain Bolt.
  • Newton’s three fundamental laws of motion are described with examples from sports such as football and basketball.
  • the discus, the gymnastics and the pirouettes of athletes in diving and figure skating are used to illustrate the physical principles that govern rotational motion.
  • describing  how the various forms of energy, such as kinetic and potential, are used by athletes to set records in sports such as pole vaulting, cycling etc.
  • the theory of projectiles is used to calculate parameters such as optimal launch angle, maximum range, margin of error, etc. for sports including the shot put, long jump, basketball and tennis.
  • the basic principles of aerodynamics and hydrodynamics are presented, as well as the way they are applied to sports such as the javelin throw, ski jumping and swimming.
  • an overview is provided of the external factors influencing the performance of athletes, such as weather conditions and altitude, as well as methods that may offer a more objective comparison of records.
See also  FIFA World Cup - Free Kick Tutorial and Accuracy

In all the chapters, simulations, specially created for the purpose of the book, complement the theoretical concepts. The simulations are based on mathematical models of sports, one of the key research interests of the author.

About the Author

Dr Vassilios McInnes Spathopoulos

Dr. Vassilios McInnes Spathopoulos graduated from the University of Glasgow (UK), with a joint honours degree in Aerospace and Electronic Engineering, in 1995. The following year he completed a MSc course in Flight Dynamics at Cranfield University (UK). In 2001 he obtained his PhD from the University of Glasgow, conducting research on the validation of a rotorcraft mathematical model by means of flight testing a gyroplane. He teaches undergraduate subjects at the Department of Aircraft Technology, at the Technological Education Institute (TEI) of Chalkis, Greece. His research interests include the aerodynamics of sports balls and improving engineering education.

Category iconBook Reviews,  Coaching,  Track & Field Tag iconVassilios McInnes Spathopoulos

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fabien says

    March 14, 2013 at 6:12 am

    Damn I swear to myself not to buy any other book this month… but physics+track&field this is a combination I couldn’t resist

    Reply
    • Jimson Lee says

      March 14, 2013 at 6:17 am

      It’s a good book if you like or need Physics. Great read for high school and college.

      Besides, it’s a kindle ebook… takes up no space!

      Reply
      • Vassilios says

        May 9, 2013 at 12:03 am

        Now also out in paperback!

        http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Physics-Vassilios-McInnes-Spathopoulos/dp/1483930076/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368082425&sr=8-2&keywords=introduction+to+the+physics+of+sports

        Reply
        • Jimson Lee says

          May 12, 2013 at 2:54 pm

          @Vassilios, excellent, thanks for the update and good news!

          Reply
    • Vassilios says

      March 14, 2013 at 7:32 am

      Hi Fabien! Thanks for getting the book. I hope you enjoy it! Any questions, please let me know!

      Reply
      • Fabien says

        March 14, 2013 at 8:02 am

        There is a mistake on location 168 :

        …lightspeed, which travels in a vacuum at 300 000 km/h. It’s 300 000m/s which is roughly 1 billion km/h

        Reply
        • Vassilio says

          March 14, 2013 at 8:48 am

          Ooops, that’s certainly a typo! Please let me know if you spot any others and I’ll correct them. Thanks.

          Reply
        • Vassilios says

          March 14, 2013 at 8:56 am

          Yeap, that’s a typo for sure! It should be 300000 km/s, not km/hr! Thanks!

          Reply
  2. Fabien says

    March 14, 2013 at 6:53 am

    I had already bought it when I wrote the comments. It may give me some funny example if I teach calculus

    Reply
    • Jimson Lee says

      March 14, 2013 at 6:58 am

      Acceleration and Calculus 2 (integration) is a must!

      Reply
  3. Fabien says

    March 14, 2013 at 7:35 am

    My opinion on this topic is very biased but I think every knowladgeable person should know at least : calculus, mathematical analysis, analytical mechanics, classical electrodynamics, general relativity as well as the basics of quantum mechanics+some notion of science history. If not they are just missing the meaning of life and so much enlightment and indeed fun.

    I strongly recommand feynman lectrures on physics as well as berkeley lectures on physics. Concerning mathematical analysis : rudin (principle of mathematical analysis) and Godement Analyse mathématique. The last one is in french though, but the first volume is just the funniest math book ever and clearly my favorite.

    What nobody cares… :D

    Reply
  4. Fabien says

    March 14, 2013 at 7:36 am

    HO I forgot to add some probability theory in the list above. Shame on me.

    Reply
    • Jimson Lee says

      March 14, 2013 at 7:43 am

      Absolutely! Anyone who gambles (i.e. lottery, betting, Vegas, etc) must take a course in probability. And a working knowledge of statistics is also a must.

      Reply
      • Fabien says

        March 14, 2013 at 7:51 am

        Actually anyone (except if you want to be easily manipulated by any politician or pseudo-scientific). I strongly recommand : the pleasure of probability by Richard Isaac. You don’t need to know anything else than basic algebra. Of course it demand some effort but it’s so much fun.

        Reply
  5. hugh says

    March 22, 2013 at 4:25 am

    in relation to training , any one has any ideas , in relation to speed skate crossover , seems more relevant then bobsleed.?

    Reply
  6. hugh says

    March 22, 2013 at 4:28 am

    also, croosover in relation to daistance , eg. 1000meter speed skate vs. 400 meter track training … ( also many greetings to jimson still doin a great job:))……in cluding weight training

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Recommended

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xbs-aWxyLk

Shop Our Store

  • Bud Winter (9)
  • Championship Productions (6)
  • Clyde Hart (2)
  • Derek Hansen (1)
  • Electrical Muscle Stimulation (2)
  • Jim Hiserman (6)
  • Jimson Lee (4)
  • Uncategorised (0)

Articles by Category

Products

  • Jim Hiserman - Developing 800m Runners: Identifying, Categorizing and Developing 400m-800m Type Athletes $42.99 $39.99
  • Private Coaching - Monthly Plan $600.00 $525.00
  • Jim Hiserman-Developing-Distance-Runnersv2 Jim Hiserman - Developing Distance Runners Volume 2: A Systematic Approach to Developing Individual Success within a Dynamic Team Culture $34.95 $29.95
  • Feed-the-Cats-Clinic-3-Pack-701 'Feed the Cats' Clinic 3-Pack $64.99
  • Tony Holler's Feed the Cats": A Complete Sprint Training Program Tony Holler's "Feed the Cats" Complete Sprint Training Program $49.99
  • Bud Winter and Speed City presents Arthur Lydiard 509x716 Bud Winter & Arthur Lydiard MP3 [Download only] $9.99

RECENT POSTS

  • IFAC 2022: The Return of In-Person Conferences (with Virtual option)
  • Here is our 400m Discussion Recording… over 2 Hours Long
  • The Best Free Coaching Book – post Beijing 2022 Olympics
  • The Ultimate 400m Track Webinar for Coaches & Athletes
  • NACAC Athletics Coaching Science Series 2022
  • Top Six 400m Predictor Workouts (Number 4 is my Favourite)
  • Best 6 Podcasts for 2021 (and Beyond)
  • Why Karsten Warholm’s 45.94 400mH WR is my Highlight of 2021
  • Sprinting: 10 Research Articles for Effective Sprint Training [Part 23]
  • Pressure in Sports – Reflections from Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Copyright © 2023. SpeedEndurance.com is owned and operated by Aryta Ltd. Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy