Tag - Science Olympics

Athletes Dress for Success in the Science of the Olympics

Olympic athletes wear special competition clothing to gain an edge in their sport. Science & technology continues to improve the clothes and protective gear they wear.

In the bobsled, downhill racing and speed skating, athletes want to go faster.  How do they do it? Hard work, physical training, the right equipment and fast clothes made of special aerodynamic material all contribute. Clothes are engineered to enhance performance and reduce drag.

All Olympic suits start in the lab with synthetic polymer materials and molecules called monomers.  Engineers string the monomers together to make polymers. A long polymer chain is strong.

Chemical engineers decide which monomers to use and how to connect them to make different materials for different uses. Spandex is lightweight and flexible for suits while Kevlar is strong yet lightweight for skis and helmets.

Even wind resistance can be engineered into a clothing design. Sometimes, a rougher surface can have less drag than a smooth surface helping an athlete go faster. Golf balls are designed with dimples to go farther. The dimples create whirlpools or tiny vortexes of air

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Science of the Olympics – The Bernoulli Advantage

I can’t help but be amazed by the high-tech science that we’re seeing at this year’s Summer Olympics. Our 9News friend, Mark Koebrich, who is reporting from Beijing told me that the controversial swimsuit made by Speedo is nothing short of an engineering marvel that is definitely helping our Olympians perform to their true potential. The name of the game in so many of the sports is to reduce any opposing resistance. In some instances, the athlete can actually use other competitors to block the wind (drafting in cycling).

What does any of this have to do with floating beach balls and flying toilet paper? That fast-moving air flowing around the object creates an area of lower pressure and gives the athlete an advantage. Thanks Bernoulli.