Quiz: Engineering March Madness

Quiz: Engineering March Madness

From sneaker friction to rim stress, see what you know about the science and engineering behind the basketball game.
March is a big month for sports fans: the NHL and NBA seasons are in full swing, opening day for baseball is around the corner, and the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournaments, better known as March Madness, take over screens everywhere. Most of the fan focus is on brackets, athletes, and scoreboards, but engineers might be taking notice of the physics and biomechanics on the court.

Take the basketball hoop: a rim weighing only about 22 ounces can withstand powerful dunks that send forces straight through it and into the backboard, all while being made of glass so fans can see through it. It took serious engineering, numerous iterations, and more than a few spectacular fails for glass to survive that kind of impact. What other science is there behind the sport? Test your knowledge with this ASME quiz on the engineering of basketball.

 
 
From sneaker friction to rim stress, see what you know about the science and engineering behind the basketball game.