Design in Sports | Math in the Middle of Design

Did you know design plays a very important role in sports? The mathematics needed to create these designs can be found everywhere in sports from stadiums to racing bikes.

A football stadium can bring together a huge audience for an athletic event. The structure of many modern stadiums can be traced back to Greek (stadia) and Roman (amphitheatre) times.

Edward Mangan, the field director for the Atlanta Braves explains how the stadium was originally configured for the Olympics. It was redesigned to meet the needs of the baseball fans.

Design must be taken into consideration with swimming pools and diving boards too. Michael Edwards, Director of Sports Facilities, Georgia Tech, explains the process and challenges of designing a facility capable of supporting the 1996  Olympic Games and later for Georgia Tech's usage. 

Standards

• Science and Engineering Practices
  • 6.S.1 The student will use the science and engineering practices, including the processes and skills of scientific inquiry, to develop understandings of science content.
    • 6.S.1A The practices of science and engineering support the development of science concepts, develop the habits of mind that are necessary for scientific thinking, and allow students to engage in science in ways that are similar to those used by scient...
      • 6.S.1A.1 Ask questions to
        • 6.S.1A.1.2 refine models, explanations, or designs, or
• 7.S.1 The student will use the science and engineering practices, including the processes and skills of scientific inquiry, to develop understandings of science content.
  • 7.S.1A The practices of science and engineering support the development of science concepts, develop the habits of mind that are necessary for scientific thinking, and allow students to engage in science in ways that are similar to those used by scient...
    • 7.S.1A.1 Ask questions to
      • 7.S.1A.1.2 refine models, explanations, or designs, or
• Science and Engineering Practices
  • 8.S.1 The student will use the science and engineering practices, including the processes and skills of scientific inquiry, to develop understandings of science content.
    • 8.S.1B Technology is any modification to the natural world created to fulfill the wants and needs of humans. The engineering design process involves a series of iterative steps used to solve a problem and often leads to the development of a new or impr...
      • 8.S.1B.1 Construct devices or design solutions using scientific knowledge to solve specific problems or needs:
• H.B.1 The student will use the science and engineering practices, including the processes and skills of scientific inquiry, to develop understandings of science content.
  • H.B.1B Technology is any modification to the natural world created to fulfill the wants and needs of humans. The engineering design process involves a series of iterative steps used to solve a problem and often leads to the development of a new or impr...
    • H.B.1B.1 Construct devices or design solutions using scientific knowledge to solve specific problems or needs:

Resources