By Reilly Cahill

With the 2026 Winter Olympics right around the corner, elite athletic performances will soon captivate audiences around the world.

But understanding what it takes for athletes to succeed goes beyond what fans see in a stadium or on television.

Physics 1111: The Physics of Sport, taught by Christopher Hill (pictured), a professor in the Department of Physics, has returned to Ohio State for the first time since spring 2024. The four-credit course, made up primarily of non-physics majors, analyzes how sports unfold through the lens of physics.

“We take something that happened the night before or recently and break it down in class,” Hill said. “It can be something we all saw, but didn’t think about in terms of the physics behind it.”

One example Hill has used in the past involves a concussion former Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. sustained after a hit against Georgia in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31, 2022.

The hit late in the third quarter was initially ruled targeting but later overturned, stunning many Buckeye fans. In class, Hill slowed down the footage and analyzed the physics behind the collision.

“We calculated the forces applied to his head, how much was absorbed by the helmet and how much was transmitted to his brain,” Hill said. “We tried to make the scientific case that this was targeting, because that’s what a lot of Ohio State fans thought when they saw it.”

In addition to Hill breaking down clips from Ohio State athletics, the Olympics and other timely sports, students also analyze their own videos in the lab portion of the course.

“This class lets you look at a sport you like in more detail,” Hill said. “What you come away with is usually some new insight and a greater appreciation for that sport.”

Hill said understanding the physics behind sports plays can lead to a deeper respect for what athletes do on the field or court.

Student-athletes can benefit from the course as well. Former Buckeyes Jack Sawyer and Michael Thomas have each taken the class in the past.

“Athletes get a lot out of it because they’re already familiar with the activity,” Hill said. “Understanding the physics can help them get better at their sport. It doesn’t replace coaching or practice, but it can explain why coaches tell you to do certain things.”

Hill, who has taught at Ohio State since 2010, said Physics 1111 is his favorite course to teach and that he hopes to continue offering it.

“I obviously like it,” Hill said, “but I think most students who’ve taken it have really enjoyed it. And I can’t think of anyone who’s failed the class, so it’s not as hard as people might think.”