Hobbies And Interests
Long Jumping
Conduct an agility experiment to test if jumping distance increases with an increase in running distance before the jump. Find a long jump pit at a local school track field. Measure different running distances and mark the distances using chalk. For example, start at three meters and increase to 15 meters in three meter increments. Run and jump at each distance three times each to calculate an average for that distance. After jumping mark, measure and record the distances. Take breaks before each trial jump in order to not alter any results. Put the results into a data spreadsheet and create a line graph to illustrate and compare results.
Blood Pressure and Exercise
Investigate the effects of exercise on blood pressure. The more fit an individual is, the better their blood pressure and the more agile they will be to perform exercises. Find at least six volunteers to participate in the study, three female and three male. In the study have the volunteer's sit and rest for five minutes. Take the volunteers initial resting blood pressure and record results. Create a spreadsheet with a column for each volunteers name, age, sex and resting and exercising blood pressure results. Have the volunteer begin stepping up and down on a aerobic stepper for five minutes. Immediately take the volunteer's blood pressure and record results. Create a graph to illustrate the change in blood pressure for each volunteer.
Baseball Pitching Agility
Conduct an experiment to investigate how body position affects baseball speed. Find a volunteer to video record your experiment. Go to a park. Find two pole or trees in which you can tie a clothesline. Get a white bed sheet and draw a large X in the middle about 2 feet in length. Attach the bed sheet to the clothesline with the bottom of the sheet touching the ground. Measure a distance 40 feet from the sheet. Do the first trial pitch with your arm and no stride. Aim for the X. The second trial should contain a stride. Change stride positions and repeat trials. Review the recordings in slow motion. Calculate the pitching speed using the start and end time and the distance. Create a graph to illustrate pitching speed times.
Lung Capacity
Conduct an experiment to find out if athletes have a better lung capacity than nonathletes. Find at least six volunteers, the same age and sex. Three of the volunteers should currently play competitive sports and three volunteers should not do any type of athletics. Document the type and amount of exercise each volunteer does per week. Measure the height and weight of each volunteer. Use the balloon method to measure tidal capacity and vital capacity of each volunteer. Get a round balloon and stretch it a few times. Measure tidal capacity by having the volunteer inhale normally and then exhale normally into the balloon. Measure the balloons diameter. Measure vital capacity by having the volunteer inhale as much air as they can and then exhale everything into the balloon. Remeasure the diameter of the balloon and record results. Repeat the tests for each volunteer three times to determine average for each volunteer. Create a spreadsheet with the results. Prepare a line graph to compare results between athletes and nonathletes.
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