The Geometry of Snow Sports

Geometry is essential for snow sports. Take a moment to write down a few ways in which geometry affects the precision of the sport. 

Discussion Questions

1. What data is necessary to collect in order to understand the role of geometry in snow sports? 
2. What spatial perspectives and/or mathematical planes are important for precision? 

The cover of The Geometry of Winter Olympic Sports, to the right above, features a cross-country skier in action. 

Discussion Questions

1. What angles can be measured on the diagram, in order to understand the accuracy of technique?  
2. Is any essential information missing from the picture? What is necessary in order to measure that information?

Geometry diagrams featuring snow sports are available in the following book from Schottenbauer Publishing:

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Winter Olympic Sports

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources

Laboratory Model of a Ski Jump

Ski jumps are impressive aerial displays of the laws of physics. Studying jumps in the laboratory, without the presence of wind, presents data which is easier to analyze. 

The following graph is excerpted from Volume 4 of The Science of Snow Sports from Schottenbauer Publishing.

Discussion Questions

1. Using a red pen, separate the graph into the following segments: (a) At Rest on Top of Slope, (b) Trajectory on Slope, (c) Trajectory in Air, (d) Trajectory on Ground, (e) At Rest on Ground.
2. Create a table with the above categories, including: (a) Initial Time, (b) Ending Time, (c) Highest x Value, (d) Lowest x Value, (e) Highest y Value, (f) Lowest y Value.
3. Using the above information, calculate the average velocity during the trajectory on the slope in terms of the speed in the x direction, the y direction, and overall.
4. Using the above information, calculate the average velocity in the air in terms of the speed in the x direction, the y direction, and overall.
5. What occurs after the model skier hits the ground?

Additional data on snow sports can be found in the following science lab manuals from Schottenbauer Publishing:

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Snow Sports 
• Volume 1: Force, Acceleration, & Video Analysis (Outdoor Snow & Lab)
• Volume 2: Force & Video Analysis (Plastic Models in Lab)
• Volume 3: Force & Acceleration (Ice-Topped Snow)
• Volume 4: Video Analysis (Models on Curved Surfaces in Lab)

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Winter Olympic Sports 

Schottenbauer Publishing also features other books on sport science, including:

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Athletic Training
• The Science of Exercise Equipment 
• The Science of Gymnastics 
• The Science of Yoga, Pilates, & Ballet

  Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Physical Fitness
• The Science of Gymnastics
• The Science of Yoga
• The Science of Dance & Ballet

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources

The Science of Snow Sports

The science and math of snow sports are topics of new books from Schottenbauer Publishing. Presenting data from real and simulated conditions collected by the science writer and publisher M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D., these books bring the "high tech" end of snow sports to audiences everywhere!

In these books, students can enjoy learning about common aspects of snow sports. One series of books, written for elementary school students, focuses on geometry. Another series of science books features graphs and data; these illustrate common mathematical functions, plus a variety of concepts from physics. The science books can be integrated into classes such as math, physical science, physics, physical education, and health, anywhere from 7th grade through high school, as well as some introductory college and university classes. 

The books directly pertaining to snow sports include the following:

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Winter Olympic Sports

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Snow Sports 
• Volume 1: Force, Acceleration, & Video Analysis 
• Volume 2: Force & Video Analysis 
• The Science of Archery & Shooting Sports 
• Volume 1: Archery: Force & Video Analysis 
• Volume 2: Shooting Sports: Video Analysis

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Winter Olympic Sports 

These books are complemented by a series of science books on other popular sports topics, including Olympic sports, athletic training, exercise equipment, gymnastics, yoga, ballet, and more. Topics related to snow sports include:

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Gymnastics
• The Geometry of Yoga
• The Geometry of Ballet

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Athletic Training
• Volume 1: Force & Acceleration
• Volume 2: Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis 
• The Science of Exercise Equipment 
• Volume 1: Force & Acceleration
• Volume 2: Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis
• The Science of Gymnastics 
• Volume 1: Force & Acceleration
• Volume 2: Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis
• The Science of Yoga, Pilates, & Ballet 
• Volume 1: Force & Acceleration
• Volume 2: Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Physical Fitness
• The Science of Gymnastics
• The Science of Yoga
• The Science of Dance & Ballet

Most of the books above are available in both English and German translation. The books pertaining to the geometry of Olympic sports are also available in 15 world languages. 

The same publisher offers similar books on additional popular topics, including sports, transportation, construction, environment, music, entertainment, and general physics. All of these book series are available in several formats and languages, including the following:

Geometry Workbooks

• Print & E-Book Editions
• Available in English & German
• Olympics Books Available in 15 Languages

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• Print Editions
• Available in English & German

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• Print Editions
• English Only

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources

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Books-a-Million

CreateSpace

CreateSpace Wholesale

MusicaNeo Digial Sheet Music

Zazzle Art, Posters, & Memorabilia

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With Kindle Unlimited ($9.99/month) at Amazon.com, you can read all e-books from Schottenbauer Publishing for no extra charge! Amazon offers Free 30 Day Trials of Kindle Unlimited. With this deal, trial members can read all Schottenbauer Publishing e-books free! This includes all the geometry workbooks, plus "The World in a Graph," "Alphabets of the World," textbooks on the science of music, all the e-book puzzles, and the educational novels by M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D.