Susan B.

Anthony Middle School

2015-2016

STEM SPORTS
Mr. B. Pezzuto | Email: bpezzuto@revere.mec.edu | 781-388-7520 ext: 54217

Staying Connected
to STEM Sports
Twitter:
@SBA_Pezzuto
Instagram:
SBA_Pezzuto

Classroom Policies
Grading Policy:
Tests: 40%
Quizzes: 30%
Projects: 20%
Homework: 10%

Class Website:

www.sbapezzuto.weebly.com

Bathroom Policy:

Course Description

Students are required to use

the date stamp each time the
exit the classroom. Please
stamp the date next to your
name in the designated binder.
(For example, if you are going
to the nurse, please open the
binder that says nurse, find
your name and stamp the date
in the next available box)

Students enrolled in STEM (Science, Technology,

Engineering and Mathematics) Sports will explore the scientific
and mathematical concepts embedded within the world of sports.
Students develop skills and knowledge in the fields of physics,
biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and fluid mechanics in
order to investigate the complexities of many common sports.
Additionally, students will analyze and design statistical studies
comparing famous athletes using quantitive evidence, and the
evolution (technology/engineering) of sporting equipment. This
course will help reinforce important skills that students learn in
mathematics and science class in order to support academic
success in core classes. As a result of taking this course, students
will gain exposure to a relevant application of science and
mathematics and in turn develop a greater appreciation for all
STEM subjects.

Susan B. Anthony Middle School

After-school Policy
Mr. B. Pezzutos department
night is Thursday. I am after
school until at least 2:40pm each
day to assist students and address
any questions. To be welcome
after school, students must be
working on science work and
must stamp the proper date next
to their name in the binder
labeled After-School
Help/Department Night.

Late-Work Policy
Late-work will be accepted for a
penalty of TEN (10) points per
day late, for up to TWO (2) days.
Late-work turned in two days
after the deadline will result in a
zero for the particular
assignment.

Absent/Make-up Work
Policy
Students are responsible for
checking the class website for
their absent/make-up work. The
class website is updated regularly.
Any assignment, including
tests/quizzes that is missed due
to absence MUST be made up
within ONE WEEK. Failure to
make up work will result in a zero
for the assignment.

2015-2016

Required Course Materials

One binder or.
Labeled binder dividers
Test/Quizzes, Handouts, Homework
Two spiral bound one-subject notebooks
with three-hole punch.
One notebook labeled NOTES and one labeled
DO NOW
An organized binder is crucial to your success in this class.
Routine binder checks will be conducted randomly and will
count towards your final grade.
Materials Due Date ____________________________________
Student Name _________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: _________________________________

Questions that STEM Sports Students may

Investigate:
Why does a curveball curve?
Why do golf balls have dimples?
Who is the best clutch athlete in their respective sport?
Why is a spiral the best way to throw a football?
How does blood doping, PED and steroids use effect the human body?

Susan B. Anthony Middle School

2015-2016

Syllabus
Below is a general outline of the concepts that will be covered in STEM Sports class. Some scientific
concepts may overlap into various sports and for simplicity, will not be listed. This outline is subject to
change during the course of the school year.

Unit 1: Introduction to STEM Sports

- Review of an Athletes Body
- Respiration/Heart Rate
- Thermoregulation
- Hydration
- Muscular Movement/coordination
- Vision

Unit 2: GOLF
- Newtons First and Second Laws of Motion (inertia and acceleration)
- Newtons Third Law of Motion and Momentum
- Potential and Kinetic Energy
- Compressional Forces
- Golf Ball and Equipment Evolution
- Agronomy and aeration (photosynthesis)
- Torque and moment of inertia
- Work, Energy and Power
- Math in golf (Handicap and Scoring)
- Friction and Spin
- Optical Illusion
- Ebbinghaus illusion

Unit 3: Baseball
- Geometry of Pulling and Pushing a Pitch
- Scatterplots (pitch plots)
- Aluminum v.s wooden bats (BBCOR)
- Scale of the baseball field
3

Susan B. Anthony Middle School

2015-2016

- Fluid dynamics of a curveball

- Comparing Players using Statistics (BA vs OBP vs SLP)
- Magnus Effect
- Aerodynamics of a Wiffleball
- Batters Advantage
- Calculating speed around the base path
- Run through first base or Slide?
- Finding the Center of Percussion of a bat using frequencies (Out of the park Baseball)
- Saber metrics place in baseball
- Newtons laws application in pitching
- Trajectory in catching a fly ball
- Tommy John Surgery

Unit 4: Football
-Ideal Gas Law and Deflate-gate investigation
-Guy-Lussacs Law
- Center of gravity
- Learning football positions through plotting points
- The Spiral
- Skeletal system and protective equipment
- Concussions
- Momentum
- Projectile motion
- Pythagorean theorem
- Kinematics
- Velocity Vectors
- The Anatomy of a Hit

Unit 5: Hockey
-Friction (Why cant we skate on glass?)
- Hockey Geometry (Goalies cutting down the angle)

Susan B. Anthony Middle School

2015-2016

- Mass Volume and Density

- Reflexes and Reaction Time
- Force, Impulse and Collisions
- Velocity Vectors
- Work, Energy, and Power
- Projectile Motion
- Kinematics: Position, velocity and acceleration
- Physical changes/ Chemistry of Ice resurfacing
- Gyroscopic Effect (Saucer pass)
- Bruins I.C.E. School

Unit 6: Basketball
-Forces
-Measuring Vertical Leap using Virtuvian Man
-Axis of Rotation
-Effect of Backspin on a free throw
- Parabolic arch in shooting a Jump Shot
- Energy Transfer in a Bank shot
- Dribbling Potential and Kinetic Energy
- Density in bounce height
- Vectors in Play Calling

Unit 7: Additional sports/activities

- Why Frisbees Fly?
- Should college athletes get paid? (persuasive essay)
- Bicycle as a system
- Timeline of evolution of sporting equipment
- Clutch Athlete project
- Be a GM project
- Boxing: The art of the knockout punch
- Swimming Fluid Dynamics
- Formula 1 and G forces