There is some fascinating physics involved which links with a wide range of learning in the science national curriculum and A-level curricula. It starts with the kinetic theory of gases and how the movement of air molecules can produce forces and pressure. And of course the movements of the balls are all governed by Newton's laws of motion. Principles of dynamics and kinematics help explain the path of a football or cricket ball through the air.

To understand the forces in more detail, fluid mechanics are used. Essentially this is the study of how fluids move around an object - so in this case how air flows around footballs and cricket balls as they move. What happens is remarkable and we find that there are different reasons for the bend or swing of footballs and cricket balls. It all links to similar effects in golf and tennis and even to why aircraft can take off and stay in the air.

It's more interesting still because the bend and swing depend on how footballs are made and how cricket balls change in condition as they are used in a game. Bending of a football in flight only became consistently possible when modern lightweight footballs were produced that do not absorb water and become heavy. But now, apparently because of the smoothness of their surface, some of the latest footballs are swerving in very strange ways. And the swing of a cricket ball - conventional swing and reverse swing - has different origins in physics, reverse swing only being possible when the ball is older.

All of these topics are discussed in our events - with unique graphics, demonstrations, reconstructions and displays of footballs, football boots and cricket balls. The presentation is always adjusted to the age and composition of the audience.

The presentations are a good basis for school science projects on football free kicks and the swing of a cricket ball.