The Physics of Winter Sports
The physics of ice sports is relatively easy, so figure skating, speed skating,
hockey, bobsled, ski jump, luge and skeleton can be readily analyzed and
understood from the scientific perspective--only curling is difficult, and that
is because the surface of a sheet of curling ice is pebbled prior to play. Snow
physics is more complicated and variable, so my analyses for downhill and
cross-country skiing, and snowboarding, are less precise but still instructive.
I explore the characteristics of snow and ice, and the different types of skates
and skis, of sleds and suits. The aim is to provide winter sports enthusiasts
with insight into high-speed sliding (speed skaters are the fastest creatures on
on two legs).
Gliding for Gold (2011) is published by Johns Hopkins University Press.