![]() ![]() The reason a flying baseball will shatter the glass if it hits a window is that the ball transfers its kinetic energy to the glass. The potential energy is converted to another form of energy once the object starts falling. Gravitational potential energy represents stored energy and increases as an object is raised farther from Earth’s surface. Riders in the sledding events reach their fast speeds because of the conversion of gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy. The track is roughly a mile long (1.6 km), drops 397 feet of elevation (121 meters) – with the steepest section being an incredible 18% grade – and comprises 16 curves. This year’s races are taking place at the Yanqing National Sliding Center. The big-picture physics is simple – start at some height and then fall to a lower height, letting gravity accelerate athletes to speeds approaching 90 mph (145 kph). Gravity is what powers the sleds down the ice-covered tracks in bobsled, luge and skeleton events. ![]() ![]() SEE MORE: Yun Sung-Bin becomes South Korean hero in 2018 Gravity and energy But that thought merely scratches the surface of all the subtle physics that go into a gold-medal-winning performance. It would be easy to assume that the competitors are simply falling or sliding down a track at the whim of gravity. Much of the excitement of a luge run is easy to miss – the athletes’ movements are often too small to notice as they fly by looking like nothing more than a blur on your television. It is how the athletes react to the physics that ultimately determines the fastest runs from the rest of the pack. But beneath the thrilling descents of the winding, ice-covered track, a myriad of concepts from physics are at play. Speed alone may be the factor that draws many sports fans to the bobsled, luge and skeleton events at this year’s Winter 2022 Olympics. By John Eric Goff, Professor of Physics at Lynchburg University ![]()
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