Fundamentals of Sports Materials and Performance

📋 Course Outline

1. Polymers, monomers and polymerization
2. Thermosoftening and thermosetting plastics
3. Balanced athlete diet and nutrient groups
4. Doping definition, criteria and health risks
5. Doping history and banned drug examples
6. Doping detection methods and testing limits
7. Monitoring athlete performance with technology
8. Sports photography camera settings

📖 1. Polymers, monomers and polymerization

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Polymer : A polymer is a very large molecule built by linking many smaller molecules together.
• Monomer : A monomer is a small molecule that can join with other monomers to form a polymer.
• Polymerization : Polymerization is the chemical reaction that bonds monomers together to create a polymer.
• Thermosoftening plastics : Thermosoftening plastics are plastics whose polymer molecules have no cross links, so they soften when heated.
• Thermosetting plastics : Thermosetting plastics are plastics that harden when heated and cannot be remelted after setting.

📝 Essential Points