Tim Gay's new book, 'Football Physics,' reveals science of the game

While Husker fans are uncovering the secrets to the West Coast offense, they may still be wondering how spin and altitude affect the range of punters.

In a new book, "Football Physics: The Science of the Game," University of Nebraska-Lincoln physics-of-football professor Timothy Gay explains the science behind the game. Just out from publisher Rodale, readers will relive football's classic moments while gaining a fresh appreciation for the physical dynamics of blocking and tackling, open-field running, kicking, passing, the struggle at the line of scrimmage, and the role played by padding, turf and the decibels of sound generated by the home crowd.

With clear explanations, classic black-and-white photographs, and easy-to-follow popular science diagrams, Gay combines the excitement of a game in which seemingly anything can happen with the laws and logic of the natural world.

"The more you understand about football, the more you'll get out of watching or playing it," Gay said. "And to really appreciate the game of football at the deepest level, you need an understanding of the basic principles of physics underlying the action on the field."

Gay separates the fact from the fiction of football lore. For example, while the sound level down on the field can reach more than 120 decibels (the equivalent to front-row seats at a Kiss concert, according to Gay) and can be quite unsettling to the visiting team, it is unable to affect the trajectory of the ball or otherwise directly alter the game. However, atmospheric density does influence the flight of the ball during a December game in Green Bay, Wis., or any game in Denver. Kicking long in Denver's mile-high air produces about a 5-yard advantage over kicking in any stadium near sea level.

This thorough exploration of the physics of football also reveals many fun and phenomenal facts about the strength and skill needed on the field.

Gay reveals some of the reasons why:

* A Dick Butkus tackle packed the same force as an adult killer whale;

* The energy exerted by players in a single game would lift a 1.5-ton pickup truck 1.4 miles in the air;

* The law of vector addition allowed Joe Montana to connect with Dwight Clark for "The Catch" in the 1981 NFC Championship -- though even a 0.53-second error in timing could lead to an incomplete pass or worse;

* The instantaneous force exerted on a kicked ball at the moment of impact can reach 1 ton;

* The top speed and maximum acceleration of offensive linemen like Hall of Fame Cincinnati Bengals tackle Anthony Munoz can make the difference between 6 points and a field goal in a short-yardage situation.

Gay played football at the California Institute of Technology and earned his Ph.D. in atomic physics from the University of Chicago. He has been a professor of physics at UNL since 1993. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and heads a research group that studies electron and neutrino physics. After being introduced on HuskerVision segments during Nebraska home games (1999-2003), his entertaining football analyses have been featured by the National Football League and on Discovery Canada, and his bow-tie bravado has been examined in the Wall Street Journal, ESPN Magazine, Sports Illustrated and People magazines, and on ABC Evening News, CNN Headline News, National Public Radio and elsewhere.

About the book: "Football Physics: The Science of the Game," by Timothy Gay, Ph.D., Rodale Books/September 2004/$21.95, 6" x 9"/288 pages/ISBN 1-57954-911-X.

CONTACTS: Tim Gay, Professor, Physics & Astronomy, (402) 472-2773 Jessica Roth, Publicity, Rodale, (610) 967-78530