Maybe 2010 is the year. In any event I love watching skiing on NBC's Universal Sports channel, the skill and courage of ski jumpers in particular. Have you every wondered about the physics of that sport? I have and did a search to see if I could learn more. Excerpted below is an article from National Geographic Kids on ski jumping and fighting the drag coefficient as an athlete takes off.
WHAT A DRAG!
Adam Malysz (MAH lish) wants an Olympic medal. He just might get one. The Polish ski jumper won five world contests recently. Experts think he may take the gold medal in Salt Lake City. To do so, he has to leap into some serious aerodynamics. Here's what Malysz will do. He'll take his place at the top of a giant, snow-covered slide. Before his turn to go, Malysz will coat the bottom of his skis with wax. The wax lessens the friction, or rubbing, between ski and snow. Reducing friction helps ski jumpers go faster.
When the time comes, Malysz will head downhill. Physical forces will both help and hinder him. Gravity will pull him toward the bottom of the slide, helping him move faster. But drag will slow him down. To fight drag, Malysz will crouch down. He'll bend low at the knees and waist, and he'll place his arms behind him.
This position will make Malysz's body seem smaller. That means he won't have to push as much air out of his way. Less drag means more speed. Malysz may go more than 60 miles an hour!
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