National Science Foundation
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]
National Science Foundation
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]
National Science Foundation
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]
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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]
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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]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Summer Olympics: Engineering in Sports: Measuring a Champion
An electrical engineer explains all the technology behind keeping time at an Olympic event down to thousandths of a second. These include cameras, lasers, and even RFID tags. Timekeeping must be both precise and accurate. [5:34]
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National Science Foundation: Science of Summer Olympics: Sarah Robles and Mechanics of Weightlifting
A robotics engineer analyzes the athletic movements of U.S. weightlifter Sarah Robles. by using a robotic arm called the WAM Arm to duplicate her movements. [5:34]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Summer Olympics: Designing Safety Helmets
A mechanical engineer explains the science that goes into the design of the safety helmets used in the Summer Olympics. [5:35]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympics: Safety Gear
Protective gear is critical to the safety of Olympic athletes. Scientists explain how safety helmets are designed to absorb the impact of a collision. [5:36]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Sustainability: Water: The Ogallala Aquifer
Scientists are studying the condition of the Ogallala aquifer underneath Kansas farmlands, which use this freshwater resource for irrigation. They want to understand changes taking place and what the future holds, and to help develop a...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of the Summer Olympics: Maximizing Long Jump of Bryan Clay
Bryan Clay, an Olympic decathlon athlete, worked with engineers using a stereoscopic camera system to record his movements and velocities during his long jump. They could then measure and analyze his performance immediately. [5:37]
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National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympics: Figuring Out Figure Skating
An Olympic skater and a scientist explain the physics behind the complex maneuvers figure skaters make, such as the triple axel and the quadruple toe loop. [5:38]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympics: Science of Skates
The science behind the design of ice skates and their blades is explained. [5:54]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of the Winter Olympic Games: Building Faster and Safer Bobsleds
Scientists explain the design challenges faced when making bobsleds that are fast and safe. [6:10]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science Ff Nfl Football: Newton's Second Law of Motion
NBC's Lester Holt and former NFL kicker Morten Andersen look at what's really behind powerful field goal kicks--Newton's Second Law of Motion. [3:51]