National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympic Games: Science of Snow
Snow is an essential part of the Winter Olympics. A former Winter Olympian, who is also a glaciologist, and a chemist discuss how humidity and temperature help form snow. [4:40]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Green Revolution: Solar
At Arizona State University, students make and test new materials that can be used to build better and more versatile photovoltaic solar cells, and test solar cells to see how the shape of the surface affects the cell's energy...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Green Revolution: Wind
Kathryn Johnson, an electrical engineer, studies large utility-scale wind turbines, and looks at how to make the turbines more efficient in order to capture as much of the wind's energy as possible. Other scientists are working with...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Nfl Football: The Pythagorean Theorem
Explains how the Pythagorean Theorem can be used to analyze the movements of football players when a defender tackles a ball carrier. [3:44]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympics: Downhill Science
Scientists explain the physics of the downhill skiing event at the Winter Olympics. [3:59]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympics: Aerial Physics
Freestyle skiers use three basic twisting techniques to perform complex jumps in the air. These aerial maneuvers can be explained in terms of physics concepts. [4:00]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympics: Snowboarding
Scientists explain the physics of snowboarding by talking about dynamic balance, gravity, force, kinetic energy, and potential energy. [4:08]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympics: Blade Runners
Explains how Newton's Three Laws of Motion are expressed in the context of speed skating. [4:17]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Summer Olympics: The Impact of Jenny Simpson
U.S. runner Jenny Simpson suffered from a stress injury due to her running, and used antigravity treadmill technology to help her recover in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics. [4:17]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympics: Air Lift
Olympic athletes and scientists discuss the physics involved in scoring well in ski jumping. [4:19]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Summer Olympics: Designing a Fast Pool
Scientists explain the engineering that went into the design of the London Aquatics Center for the 2012 Summer Olympics. In order for swimmers to perform their best, the waves are minimized using features that absorb the wave energy. [4:43]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympic Games: Physics of Slope Style Skiing
A scientist explains the physics of slope-style skiing, e.g., rotational motion, moment of inertia, angle of momentum, and friction. [4:58]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Summer Olympics: Missy Franklin and Fluid Dynamics
The principles of fluid dynamics need to be understood by swimmers in order for them to compete at the Olympic level. A scientist explains about drag, thrust, and streamlining using the example of U.S. swimmer Missy Franklin. [4:59]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympics: Science of Skis
Members of the U.S. Ski Team and scientists explain the materials science that goes into making the skis used by the team. [5:05]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympics: Banking on Speed
The American bobsled team, scientists, and a bobsled designer explain how they hope to win a gold medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010. [5:05]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympics: Internal Athlete
Cross-country skiers are among the fittest athletes, and must press the limits of their endurance in order to win at the Olympics. Scientists discuss the biochemistry behind their endurance levels. [5:06]
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National Science Foundation: Science of Winter Olympic Games: Olympic Movement & Robotic Design
Scientists are using control systems engineering to design robots that can duplicate the movements of an Olympic athlete. These robots learn to perfect movements through repetition, just as athletes do. [5:07]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympics: Competition Suits
Winter Olympic athletes and scientists discuss the science and technology behind the clothing the athletes wear in competition. [5:12]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympic Games: Injury and Recovery
Biomedical engineer Cato Laurencin describes his pioneering work in tissue regeneration. His research looks at helping high performance athletes such as alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn to recover faster from ligament damage in a knee...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympics: Mathletes
Mathematician Edward Burger explains the pervasive role math plays in the Winter Olympics, no matter what the sport. [5:15]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympic Games: Science of Ice
A mathematician explains why ice is slippery, making winter sports possible. Also describes how ice surfaces are prepared for an Olympic event. [5:21]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympic Games: Shaun White Engineering the Half Pipe
A mechanical engineer explains how the half-pipe is designed to give an Olympic snowboarder maximum air time so he can perform tricks. [5:22]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Innovation: Smart Concrete
When carbon fiber is added to concrete, it becomes an electricity conductor and a stress sensor, which may allow engineers to identify problems in a building's structure before anything is outwardly visible. [5:23]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of the Summer Olympics: The Biomechanics of Usain Bolt
Scientists explain Usain Bolt's biomechanics which allow him to achieve top acceleration and maintain top speed, despite his above-average size and mass. [5:23]