Football is Science - EARN A REWARD !

It’s 4^th down, you are deep in your own territory – time to PUNT!

Coaches recruit punters who can kick the ball to maximize hang-time and range.  Hang time is the duration from the moment ball is kicked until it is caught or it strikes the ground.  Hang time is measured in seconds.  Range is the distance the ball flies downfield and is measured in yards.

A good punter wants to kick the ball as far as he can (range) and also give his own teammates plenty of time to get downfield (hang time) to tackle the receiver.   All of this is determined by two factors – the speed of the ball off the kicker’s foot and the angle of the kick. 

BUT… THERE IS A TRADEOFF – kicking the ball straight up might maximize hang time but the ball would not travel far down the field.  Kicking it low and far would maximize range but hang time might be very low.   A great punter (or golfer, or baseball pitcher, or basketball player) can make small adjustments to get the best results for the situation.

Do some research, take some observations, EARN A REWARD !

(1) Get a blank form from Mrs D to record your observations or download this one Here's the Form and print yourself

(2) Watch some football this week.  Games are on Sat, Sun, Mon nite and Thurs nite.

(3) Watch at least three punts.   Record (on your form) the distance in yards and the hang time for each punt.  (Announcers will always give the distance – sometimes they give hang time.  It’s okay if you use your own watch to measure hang time.)

(4) Go to the dictionary and lookup the word “projectile”.  Record the definition on your form.

(5) Answer the question – Is a punted football a projectile?

(6) List some other examples of projectiles
YOU MUST TURN IN YOUR COMPLETED FORM BY FRIDAY, SEP 9TH!

Scientists Get In the Middle of Things - (Literally) - Receive an Award !!

Hurricane Irene is bearing down on the eastern coast of the United States.  Ever wonder how scientists are able to measure and predict hurricanes?  “Hurricane Hunters” are specially equipped aircraft that ACTUALLY FLY INTO TROPICAL CYCLONES in the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeastern Pacific Ocean for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms.  Although satellite data has revolutionized weather forecasters' ability to detect early signs of tropical cyclones before they form, there are still many important tasks they are not suited for. Satellites cannot determine the interior barometric pressure of a hurricane, nor provide accurate wind speed information.  These data are needed to accurately predict hurricane development and movement.

53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as the "Hurricane Hunters", is a United States Air Force squadron of aircraft, based in Biloxi, Mississippi, that flies missions into hurricanes and weather systems for research purposes and observation. The term "hurricane hunters" was first applied to its missions in 1946.

To learn more – checkout this link:  Hurricane Hunters Video

To receive an award, bring in the following on Monday !

•  List any five of the major hurricanes that have struck the United States in the past 50 years.
• Bring in a map showing the path of hurricane Irene over the past few days – be prepared to show the location of the storm as of Monday morning.
• Be a scientist and do some research – what’s unusual about the eye of a hurricane?
• Does a hurricane rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise?
• What do the following abbreviations stand for?  NOAA and NWS
• Is the air pressure in a hurricane higher or lower than normal?

Think Like a Scientist - (If a Maple Seeds Float to the Ground Like a Helicopter..... I wonder if.....)

Lockheed has created a new unmanned aircraft that replicates the motion of the maple seed. The craft is called the Samarai, is about a foot long, and has two moving parts along with a camera onboard. It can be controlled by an app on a tablet or using a remote control system. The tiny flying vehicle can hover in place and take off vertically in tight places.

The Samarai had its first flight this week, was piloted at a soccer field, and rose to the lofty height of about 30-feet. The idea for the small and light "drone" is that it would be compact enough for soldiers to carry in the field and for police departments to deploy to see what is over a wall or around a corner. The drones would be carried in a backpack and launched by throwing them like boomerangs.  Checkout this link to read more and to see a cool video of the Samari in flight!  Tiny Flying Vehicle Resembles Maple Seed