A Million Whys: The Sports Expedition for Curious Kids

All 150 questions

Tap a question to watch its video and read the answer.

Expedition 1: Balls in Motion

1. What shape does a thrown ball's path make?
2. What angle sends a ball the farthest?
3. How does backspin help a ball stay in the air?
4. Why does a curveball curve?
5. How can a soccer player bend a free kick around a wall?
6. Why do golf balls have dimples?
7. Why does a knuckleball wobble?
8. Why is a tennis ball fuzzy?
9. How hard should a ball be pumped for different sports?
10. Why does a football fly in a spiral?
11. How can a pitcher throw over 100 miles per hour?
12. What happens when a bat hits a ball?
13. Why is a table tennis ball so light?
14. Why are some balls round and others pointy?
15. How do soccer goalies guess where a penalty kick will go?
16. What is the best arc for a basketball shot?
17. Why does a ball slow down faster on grass than on a gym floor?
18. Why do cricket players shine one side of the ball?
19. Why is a hockey puck flat instead of round?
20. Why does a curling stone curl?
21. Why do pool balls fly off at angles after hitting each other?
22. Why does pulling your hands back help you catch a fast ball?
23. How do outfielders know where a fly ball will land?
24. How do radar guns measure how fast a pitch is?
25. How can you test ball physics in your own backyard?

Expedition 2: Grip, Slide & Glide

26. Why do gymnasts and climbers rub chalk on their hands?
27. What do the pebbles on a basketball do?
28. Why do baseball pitchers use a rosin bag?
29. What do cleats do for soccer players?
30. Why is a wet field so slippery?
31. Why do runners on a curved track start at staggered positions?
32. How do ski technicians pick the right wax for different snow?
33. Why do hockey players tape their sticks?
34. How do figure skaters spin faster by pulling in their arms?
35. How do divers do somersaults?
36. Why do racers lean into a corner?
37. Why do swimmers wear swim caps?
38. Why do curlers have one slippery shoe and one gripping shoe?
39. How do lugers steer their sleds?
40. How does a skateboarder do an ollie?
41. How does a snowboard carve a turn?
42. Why do tennis balls behave differently on clay, grass, and hard courts?
43. Why is running on sand so tiring?
44. Why do table tennis paddles have rubber with pimples?
45. Why is the grass on a golf green cut so short?
46. How do gymnasts swing around a high bar?
47. Why do football receivers wear sticky gloves?
48. Why does a new baseball glove feel so stiff?
49. Why do speed skaters push sideways to go forward?
50. How can you test friction with sports gear?

Expedition 3: Faster, Higher, Farther

51. Why do sprinters push off starting blocks?
52. How fast can a human run?
53. What makes a sprinter faster?
54. Why do long jumpers sprint before jumping?
55. How does a high jumper clear the bar with a backward arch?
56. How does a pole vaulter use a bending pole to fly?
57. Why do shot putters and discus throwers spin?
58. How do sticks and rackets make your arm longer?
59. What is drafting in cycling?
60. Why do racing cyclists crouch low?
61. Why do speed skaters stay so low?
62. How do ski jumpers fly so far?
63. Why are rowing boats so long and narrow?
64. Why do track officials measure the wind?
65. Why do sports records keep getting broken?
66. Is there a limit to how fast humans can go?
67. How do racing wheelchairs go so fast?
68. Why do hurdlers stay low over the barrier?
69. How do relay runners pass the baton at full speed?
70. How do gymnasts fly high on a vault?
71. Why is a badminton shuttlecock both so fast and so quickly slowed?
72. What makes a good vertical jump?
73. How do marathon runners pace themselves?
74. How do hockey players stop so fast on ice?
75. How can you measure your own speed and jump at home?

Expedition 4: Training Smart Bodies

76. How do muscles get stronger with practice?
77. What is muscle memory?
78. Why does practicing in small pieces work so well?
79. Why do athletes picture a move in their heads?
80. What are fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fibers?
81. Why do different sports suit different bodies?
82. What is a muscle cramp, and what helps it go away?
83. What is a second wind?
84. Why do some kids get tired faster than others?
85. What fuel do muscles use during a game?
86. Why do bones get stronger when you jump and run?
87. Why are kids careful with heavy weights?
88. Why do athletes need rest days?
89. How do you stay safe playing sports in hot, cold, or stormy weather?
90. How do coaches and athletes track progress?
91. How can steady breathing help a runner?
92. Why is a strong core so important in sports?
93. How do gymnasts keep their balance on a narrow beam?
94. How does your brain time a throw so precisely?
95. Why do some athletes train in the mountains?
96. Why do kids sometimes feel clumsy during a growth spurt?
97. What happens when you sprain an ankle?
98. When should you stop playing and tell a grown-up about pain?
99. How does practice change your brain?
100. How can you make a safe practice plan for your favorite sport?

Expedition 5: Gear, Timing & Technology

101. How does a photo finish camera tell who won?
102. How do track meets start races fairly?
103. How do cameras decide if a tennis ball landed in or out?
104. How does goal-line technology know when a ball is fully inside the goal?
105. How does a fitness watch count your steps?
106. How are running shoes designed to help runners?
107. Why are racing bikes and sports gear made of carbon fiber?
108. How have tennis rackets changed?
109. How does a modern hockey stick act like a spring?
110. Why do soccer players need shin guards?
111. How does a mouthguard protect teeth?
112. What is artificial turf made of?
113. How do hockey rinks keep the ice frozen when it's warm outside?
114. How do stadium lights make night games possible?
115. How do makers make sure every basketball bounces the same?
116. How do scoreboards and game clocks work?
117. How do smart balls track their own movement?
118. How does a heart rate monitor on your wrist work?
119. How does slow motion help athletes improve?
120. How do wind tunnels help sports teams?
121. How do running blades help athletes with a leg prosthesis?
122. How do ski bindings keep skiers safe?
123. Why are running tracks springy?
124. Why do kids use smaller balls and lower nets?
125. How might technology change sports in the future?

Expedition 6: Fair Play & Sports Smarts

126. Why do games have rules, and why do rules change?
127. Why are close calls so hard for referees?
128. Why do sports have age groups and skill levels?
129. What does a 75 percent free-throw shooter really mean?
130. How do batting averages and other stats measure skill?
131. Why do home teams win more often?
132. Do lucky socks really work?
133. Why is a coin toss a fair way to decide who goes first?
134. How do tournaments decide a winner?
135. How does a handicap make golf fair for different players?
136. What does good sportsmanship look like?
137. How do adaptive sports include more players?
138. What is goalball?
139. Why are playing fields different sizes?
140. How are lines painted on a sports field?
141. Why is a marathon 26.2 miles long?
142. How did the game of lacrosse begin?
143. What sports do Inuit people play in the Arctic?
144. How can you calm your nerves before a big game?
145. What can you learn from losing?
146. How do you choose a sport that fits you?
147. Is the hot hand real?
148. Why do athletes walk and stretch gently after a hard workout?
149. Why do some sports use judges?
150. What sports science question will you explore next?