Wildly Spectacular Sports Science

Why does a knuckleball flutter? Why do belly flops hurt so much? Why would a quarterback prefer a deflated football?

Here are 54 all-star experiments that demonstrate the scientific principles powering a wide variety of sports and activities—and offer insights that can help you improve your own athletic skills. How does a black belt karate chop her way through a stack of bricks? Use Popsicle sticks to understand why it’s possible and learn the role played by Newton’s second law of motion.