These videos are of a series of lectures for the general public on 'The Mathematics of Sport' by Professor John D Barrow FRS, given for Gresham College.
  • David and Goliath: Strength and Power in Sport

    How does size affect performance? Why do some sports have weight categories while others don’t? What types of lever are employed in sports events like gymnastics and wrestling and how much force does a karate blow need to exert to break a brick? Professor John Barrow explores how simple maths can give us the answers in this video lecture aimed at a general audience.

  • Final Score

    Why are there so many different scoring systems in operation in sport? How can changes to scoring systems affect the relative roles of luck and skill in determining the winner? This video from Professor John Barrow's Maths of Sport lecture series is aimed at a general audience.

  • On The Waterfront

    What can maths tell us about the best way to rig a rowing eight? Does a cox help or hinder a racing boat? How does the speed of a kayak or a canoe depend on the number of paddlers? And what if you fall in – can maths tell us anything about the best way to swim? This video from Professor John Barrow's Maths of Sport lecture series is aimed at a general audience.

  • How Fast Can Usain Bolt Run?

    Is it possible for Usain Bolt improve his world 100 metres sprint record significantly without actually improving his speed? How fast is he able to run? In this video lecture, aimed at a general audience, Professor John Barrow examines the hidden mechanics of sprinting, the effect of altitude on sprint times and the current status of 'unbeatable' records.

  • Let’s Twist Again: Throwing, Jumping, and Spinning

    What role does rotation play in sport? What light does simple maths shed on the movements seen in sport and the stress they place on equipment and the human body? Professor John Barrow explains as part of his Maths in Sport video lecture series.

  • Citius, Altius, Fortius: Records, Medals and Drug Taking

    How does Olympic success correlate with a nation’s GNP? How does the location of the Olympics affect the chance of record breaking? And how can simple statistics help us understand the likelihood of winning streaks and the chance that an innocent athlete will fail a drugs test? Professor John Barrow explores the answers in this video lecture, aimed at a general audience.