Football Kicks Off Summer at Sci-Port Discovery Center

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. October 14, 2008

SHREVEPORT, LA, June 6, 2007. Can't wait until fall to catch football fever? Beginning Saturday, June 2-September 3, Sci-Port Discovery Center will host Football: The Exhibit, a nationally touring exhibition that provides an opportunity for fans of all ages to better understand the scientific aspects of the sport.

Exhibit stations explore kicking, passing, playbook statistics, scrimmage line action, cheerleading and marching bands which all provide an entertaining environment for a science lesson the whole family can enjoy. Fans will be able to test their quarterback skills as they learn why spiral motion stabilizes the football, as well as see if their grip measures up to that of a professional lineman's. Visitors will learn how peripheral vision and center of gravity are key components of blocking, tackling, and sacking the quarterback. Pre-game science is also included by showing what a football player does to prepare for the game. Rotational motion and angular and linear velocity can be explored through experiments that incorporate the field dynamics of marching bands. Experiments with balance are also brought in, demonstrating it as a key ingredient to any successful cheerleading stunt.

Football: The Exhibit additionally highlights the fascinating history of the sport and features historic memorabilia from both the NFL and NCAA.

The exhibit is divided into the following zones, each containing activities relating to specific scientific applications:

The Forward Pass

o Aerodynamics of the spinning ball are explained and tested. Participants also experiment with a bicycle wheel to learn about a spinning ball's gyroscopic ability.

o Statistics and graphs show visitors the evolution of the passing game decade by decade.

Open Field Game

o Visitors explore collision dynamics using a momentum track and calculate the outcome of several different football collisions.

o Participants test their center of gravity on several different models of players and triangulate their center of gravity.

o Visitors test their own peripheral vision and learn the difference it can make in a game.

The Game at the Line

o Grip tests and muscle demonstrations explore strength on the line.

o Time tests show the importance of quick reaction to successful plays.

o Body kinematics show mobility and speed through reaction times from different stances.

The Kicking Game

o Punting trajectory is examined with a ball bearing trajectory table, showing visitors the effects of different angles on a football's distance and hang time.

Football: The Exhibit was created by Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Located at 820 Clyde Fant Parkway on the Downtown Shreveport Riverfront, Sci-Port Discovery Center is a 92,000 square-foot science and entertainment center in Shreveport-Bossier, featuring over 200 hands-on science exhibits, a Space Center and Planetarium, daily changing programs, Louisiana's only IMAX Dome Theatre, a demonstration theater, gift shop and caf'e. Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For information call (318) 424-3466, toll-free (877) 724-7678 or see www.sciport.org. Photos are available upon request.