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PHYSICS OF THE WINTER OLYMPICS

MYIB PHYSICS PROJECT 2014

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PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS: CHOOSING A SPORT

• Select a Winter Olympic sport/event you are interested in and watch the event on TV, or online:

• http://www.nbcolympics.com/olympics-live-extra-schedule

• Make sure you can watch multiple iterations of the event. While watching, try to observe the sport as a physicist and a fan.

• You can find a full list of Winter Olympic sports and events at the IOC website:

• http://www.olympic.org/sports

Adapted from a project by David Mower, Yorktown High School (Arlington, Va.):http://yhsscience.net/dmower/physics/force/olympics.doc

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PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS: PART I

• Create a PowerPoint presentation showcasing your sport, including:

• A cool intro slide identifying your sport, with a title and a nice graphic

• A brief description of the sport: how it is played, basic rules, how it is scored, who competes in it

• Useful metric data about your event: top speed, distance, records, etc.

• Use of graphics throughout the presentation to assist in communicating information about your chosen sport

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PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS: PART I

• Research where the sport is played and include:

• A slide showing the country/countries in which the sport is the most popular

• A slide showcasing the country that has had the most success in the sport or event

• On each country slide, include a map showing the location of the country and discuss the history of the sport in that country (reasons for the sport’s popularity or that country’s success)

• Keep in mind you are students in Year 5 of the IB Middle Years Program and this presentation represents a chance for you to incorporate both science and international mindedness into an original, creative project.

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PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS: PART I

• Finally, include a slide with a link to a video showcasing the physics or science behind the sport, such as a video from one of the following sources:

• Science of the Olympic Winter Games 2010

• Science and engineering of the Olympic Winter Games 2014

• New York Times Sochi Olympics interactive graphics

• On this slide, state at least one physics principle or scientific principle from the video that relates to your sport.

• You do not need to include a detailed analysis of the physics involved in the sport; you will turn in your own analysis when you complete Part II of the project later this quarter.

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ONLINE PROJECT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Save or export your presentation in PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx) or PDF (.pdf) format (full page slides) with the filename LName_Part1.ppt (or .pptx/.pdf)

• For example, I would save my project as: Shoaf_Part1.pptx or Shoaf_Part1.pdf

• Attach the presentation to an email and send it to me at scottyg.shoaf@cms.k12.nc.us .

• Part I of the project is due at 9 p.m. on Friday February 28, 2014 and must be submitted via email by that date/time to receive full credit.

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The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.

Pierre de CoubertinFounder of the International Olympic Committee