Speed Skiing Aerodynamics Science Fair Projects

Speed science fair projects examine the physics of skiing.

Rachel
Grade 10

Objectives/Goals

The intention of this science project was to study the affect of aerodynamics on speed in speed skiing. I intended to compare an athletic stance, a high tuck, a low tuck with hands in front of my face, and a low tuck with hands below my face.

Methods/Materials

I assumed that the fastest times would belong to the stance that was both low, and had my hands in front of my face. I designed an experiment in which I took around seven runs per stance, and recorded the time at four points on the set distance. I created a cubic function from my data, and used derivatives to find the instantaneous velocity and acceleration. I attempted to test stances in a wind tunnel that I had built, but it did not work.

Results

My data showed that the low tuck with my hands in front of my face had the highest acceleration and velocity.

Conclusions/Discussion

In conclusion, the type of tuck a ski racer assumes can greatly affect their speed, and thus their results. The most effective tuck is low, with the hands positioned in front of the skier's face.  3rd party site