At Mid County Lanes, we think bowling is the best activity around. But, did you know it’s also a great learning experience? Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) principles can be found in bowling. So we’re celebrating National STEM Day on November 8! Will you join us?
If you have questions, contact us today!
Discover just a few of the ways that STEM can be found in bowling:
- Force. In order to get points in bowling, you have to knock down the pins. However, an external force (the bowling ball) is the only way to knock them down. As the ball rolls down the lane, its force will knock over the pins and you will gain points.
- Gravity. Bowling would be extremely difficult if pins and bowling balls were floating in the air. Thankfully, gravity makes bowling possible! The pins are being pulled toward the center of the earth by gravity. This allows them to stand upright and not topple over until you want them to.
- Friction. The oiled lanes help the bowling ball slide down the lane and gain momentum. However, without friction, the bowling pins would not be able to stand upright. Friction, along with gravity, works to keep the pins standing until an unbalanced force (the bowling ball) knocks them down.
Through incredibly talented engineers, bowling equipment has also gone through many changes over the years. For example, bowling balls used to be a solid piece of very hard wood. Bowling pins used to have just a layer of paint on them, but now a layer of plastic is added to the pin before being painted.
These are only a few ways that STEM is involved in this incredibly fun activity. So, celebrate National STEM Day with us on November 8! We can’t wait to see you and your kids at Mid County Lanes!
