Snow Sport Experiment Complements Graph Books!

Fun snow skiing science experiments can be conducted in the classroom or at home! The experiment below, featuring graphs of lab equipment on artificial slopes, illustrates concepts in books from Schottenbauer Publishing. 


Snow Sport Experiment

Equipment

• Block Toy(s)
• Small Toy Car(s) (Matchbox or Hot Wheels)
• Stiff Clipboards (Plastic, Cardboard, Metal)
• Cutting Board(s) (Plastic, Wood)
• Bendable Cardboard
• Protractor
• Any Book(s)
• Postal Scale

Procedure

Make an artificial slope with the clipboard, cutting board, and/or cardboard, by setting one end up on book(s) and the other end on a table or desk. Use a protractor to estimate the angle, if the surface is not curved. Weigh each of the toys, and compare surface area of contact with the slope. One by one, send the toys down the slope, and watch the projectile motion. Watch the block and/or toys fall off the edge of the desk, onto a mat or carpet to avoid damage to the toys or floor. Compare performance of several objects under several conditions.


Discussion Questions

1. Describe the following in words:
1. How do the trajectories (position, velocity, & acceleration) of the objects compare?
2. How do wheels affect the trajectory (as opposed to a flat block surface)?
3. How does mass affect the trajectory?
4. How does surface area affect trajectory?
2. Compare the results above with graphs and data from The Science of Snow Sports.
1. Do any of the objects have similar properties?
2. Do any of the surfaces have similar properties?
3. Do any of the trajectories resemble a graph from the book series?
3. Compare the results above with data and videos from real snow sports.
1. How are real snow sport events similar? 
2. How are real snow sport events different?

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources

New! The Science of Snow Sports: Volume 4

A new volume of The Science of Snow Sports has arrived! Volume 4 contains graphs from laboratory conditions. The volume compares motion of different objects on curved surfaces which are similar to ski slopes. The main surfaces incline a mildly-abraded piece of HDPE plastic, molded into sloping and U-shaped inclines, and a curved piece of metal sheeting molded into a ski jump. Graphs show the motion of a model skier on skis and a snowboard, plus a variety of shapes of wood blocks, a cylinder, and a rubber ball, as they travel down these slopes.

These data can be used for lesson plans by teachers and parents as supplements for traditional classes, as well as for special school projects, after-school enrichment activities, homeschool, and special science camps.

A sample graph from The Science of Snow Sports: Volume 4 is shown below:

Discussion Questions

1. How far does the skier travel in the vertical plane? 
2. How far does the skier travel in the horizontal plane?
3. Draw a sketch of the curved incline on which the skier travels.
4. Describe the forces on the skier.
5. Calculate the maximum velocity of the skier.
6. What event occurs towards the end of the trajectory? Why?
7. Describe the entire motion of the skier, using a full paragraph.
8. The mass of the skier is 35.93 g and the mass of the skis are 4.60 g. The dimensions of the skis in cm are 7.1 x 1.3 x 0.2.  What additional calculations can be made with these values?

Additional graphs similar to those above 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 

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources

Using Laboratory Models to Study Snow Sports

Laboratory models have the possibility of simplifying the science of snow sports. The following graphs excerpted from The Science of Snow Sports: Volume 2 provide samples of straight and curved motion of a model skier on plastic slopes. The flat slope is HDPE Plastic, and the curved slope is Pinypon Ski.

Discussion Questions for Graph 1

1. How high is the model skier at the beginning of the trajectory? At the end?
2. What is the length of the slope? Draw a model of the slope.
3. What is the velocity of the skier at the end of the trajectory?
4. Approximately how much mass does the model (skier plus skis) contain? Is it possible to obtain a precise estimate?
5. Is it possible to estimate the size of the skis? How large might the skis be?

 Discussion Questions for Graph 2

1. Describe the motion of the skier.
2. Is this slope different than the slope from the first graph? If so, how?
3. Describe the forces on the skier. How do the forces affect the motion?

 Discussion Questions for Graphs 3 & 4

1. One of these graphs shows the front view of the turn, and one shows the side view. Which graph corresponds to each view?
2. Compare these two graphs to Graphs 1 and 2. What are the main differences?
3. Why are these graphs not smooth? What happens to the skier in the region of irregularity?
4. What is the effect of the curve on the skier’s motion?

Additional graphs similar to those above 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 
• Volume 2: Force & Video Analysis 

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Winter Olympic Sports 

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources

Biathlon Practice: Science of Shooting Sports

The biathlon presents an unusual twist to Winter Olympic sports, combining skiing with shooting. The introduction of rifles to this Winter Olympic sport challenges athletes to develop different skills than their colleagues. The book series The Science of Archery & Shooting Sports from Schottenbauer Publishing contains graphs and data relevant to the biathlon. Volume 2 of the series focuses on shooting sports, which is one component of the biathlon.

The following graph (Copyright 2014, All Rights Reserved) shows a trajectory of an extra-large foam bullet, which was videotaped in motion when fired from an air launcher. (Foam bullets were selected due to their slow speed, which could be analyzed using the scientific software typically available for high school and college students in the United States.) 

Discussion Questions

1. How far does the bullet travel? 
2. How high does the bullet travel?
3. What is the angle at which the foam bullet was fired, measured with respect to the horizontal axis?
4. What is the angle at which the foam bullet was fired, measured with respect to the vertical axis?
5. Does wind interfere with the trajectory of the bullet?

Additional graphs of shooting are available in the following books from Schottenbauer Publishing:

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• 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 

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

Vendors

Amazon & Worldwide Affiliates

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

CreateSpace

CreateSpace Wholesale

MusicaNeo Digial Sheet Music

Zazzle Art, Posters, & Memorabilia

Unbeatable Specials

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.