WINTER OLYMPICS: How ski Jumpers Use Math to Increase their Jump Length

While air resistance has little impact on aerial skiers it is a significant factor used by ski jumpers to increase their jump distance.

The significant maths for ski jumpers is therefore X-section area.

Here is the jump at Pyeong Chang, 2018. Just imagine going down that at top speed!!!

              A ski jumper is set to jump in Pyeongchang.

                   Casey Larson USA Pyeong chang 2018

Ski jumpers increase their speed going down the ramp by reducing their X-section area:

           Lindsey Van, USA, practicing in a wind tunnel

Once they leave the ramp, ski jumpers try to increase their X-section area like Ski Divers to slow their vertical fall. But they have to land safely so they keep their skis at a minimum  angle.

Abby Hughes, USA, practicing in a wind tunnel.

          Abby Hughes, USA, in the air

Here are the X-section areas for Abby Hughes*:

Here is the formula for Air Resistance of Drag:

D = ½CApv²

Where C is the drag coefficient or constant, which depends on the shape and spin of an object. It is found by testing the object in a wind tunnel.

A is the X-section Area,

p is the density of the air and

v the velocity of the object.

More here.

As Abby Hughes has tripled here X-section area in the air she will have tripled the vertical drag during her jump. This will slow here decent.

*Mathspig calculated the X-section area by the old fashioned method of counting squares and rounding off the final count. Mathspig sized the two pics of Abby Huges so that her head was the same size in both pictures.

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Maths Mystery Box 4: FUNNY THAT

 Graffiti pic found @ imfunny blog.

Maths is full-on full of humour.

Can you die laughing, sir?

Try these weird death stats.

Or, how about some maths jokes?

Or, how about a Maths Scavenger hunt.

Funny that!

Many maths teachers come up with great ideas so middle school students have fun with maths. Here are a few:

Human Graphs, Charts and Diagrams

Ellies Active Maths

 

How about a human bar graph?

Or a student linear graph?

Find more @ the colab

 

Or explore geometry through, well, dance?

These students are showing supplementary angles

These students are acting out the concept of complementary angles.

Tricia Appel; Middle School Math

Or, how about the geometry of yoga?

Can you get your leg or knee to make a perfect right angle?

Or how about a Venn Diagram using Hola Hoops?

More info at Howard’s Happy Campers

Or you can measure length using bodies.

How many Smoots long is your football field?

Oliver Smoot is used as a unit of measure in 1962. 

Or try measuring the area of your school hallway in bodies!!!!

More info @ Rainbow school, Bradford, UK.

3. How maths rules ski jumping

While air resistance has little impact on aerial skiers (above) it is a significant factor used by ski jumpers to increase their jump distance.

The significant maths for ski jumpers is therefore X-section area.

Here is the jump at Sochi. Just imagine going down that at top speed!!!

Sochi Ski Jump 2014 by blogger Melbourneer

Ski jumpers increase their speed going down the ramp by reducing their X-section area:

Lindsey Van, USA, practicing in a wind tunnel

Once they leave the ramp, ski jumpers try to increase their X-section area like Ski Divers to slow their vertical fall. But they have to land safely so they keep their skis at a minimum  angle.

Abby Hughes going down jump:

Abby Hughes, USA, practicing in a wind tunnel.

Abby Hughes, USA, in the air

Here are the X-section areas for Abby Hughes*:

Here is the formula for Air Resistance of Drag:

D = ½CApv²

Where C is the drag coefficient or constant, which depends on the shape and spin of an object. It is found by testing the object in a wind tunnel.

A is the X-section Area,

p is the density of the air and

v the velocity of the object.

More here.

As Abby Hughes has tripled here X-section area in the air she will

have tripled the vertical drag during her jump. This will slow here decent.

*Mathspig calculated the X-section area by the old fashioned method of counting squares and rounding off the final count. Mathspig sized the two pics of Abby Huges so that her head was the same size in both pictures.