Overview
Science on Wheels
How do bicycle gears work? How do you do an ollie on a skateboard? What's the best way to get up after falling on your skates?
There is lots of physics involved in wheeled sports like bicycling, skateboarding, and roller skating. Have fun learning about gravity, friction, the laws of motion, and more while enjoying a favorite sport. Great ideas for science fair projects follow many experiments.
Wheels! Science Projects with Bicycles, Skateboards, and Skates
Synopsis
Science on Wheels
How do bicycle gears work? How do you do an ollie on a skateboard? What's the best way to get up after falling on your skates?
There is lots of physics involved in wheeled sports like bicycling, skateboarding, and roller skating. Have fun learning about gravity, friction, the laws of motion, and more while enjoying a favorite sport. Great ideas for science fair projects follow many experiments.
Wheels! Science Projects with Bicycles, Skateboards, and Skates
Children's Literature
Part of the series "Score! Sports Science Projects," Goodstein works with the premise that skateboarders have a physical understanding of the laws of motion. She tries to capitalize on this understanding by challenging young readers to uses their skates and skateboarding skills to investigate physics. Readers are asked to look at the center of gravity, angular momentum, and conservation of energy. Each investigation is straightforward; however, the extended chapter, which includes suggestions for science fair projects are not as clear. Goodstein lists related ideas at the end of each section, but not questions that could easily be found on a science fair board. Students will need to tease out the questions from these ideas. Finally, the writing does an admirable job of saying how important a helmet is when biking, skating or skateboarding. However, the cover image and an inside illustration, show a cool skateboarder that is helmetless. Illustrations include photos and straightforward drawings of the experiments. Backmatter includes glossary, list of related books and websites, and index. Reviewer: Amy S. Hansen