Overview
Curling and bobsled are winter sports that rely on friction against an icy track or surface. In curling, a special stone is moved by a combination of momentum and friction against a sheet of ice. Team players use a variety of strategies to determine which of their stones will score the highest. In bobsledding and related sports, two and 4 person teams gain maximum velocity at the start, steering their sleds to minimize the effects of gravity, wind resistance, and drag.
Curling
The sport of curling probably originated in Scotland in medieval times. Weavers used their large granite stones from warp beams to skim across the ice. They built special shallow ponds and used frozen rivers. The object of the game is to move the stone down the pond to a target, called “home.” Once the team member pushes off the block to give momentum to the stone, it is not kicked or thrown. The team captain, or “skip”, guides the stone with one broom, while two other players sweep the ice back and forth in front of the stone with special brooms, generating enough heat from friction to melt a thin film of water for the stone to glide upon. If stones collide, they exchange momentum.
Equipment for Curling
The stones weigh around 45 pounds, and are made from a type of granite that resists water, so any melting ice becomes the glide path. Absorbed water would slow the stone’s movement. At one time, curling brooms were made of corn husks, but curling brooms used today are made from synthetic materials to stand up to the rapid sweeping action across the ice.
Bobsledding
The winter sport of bobsledding calls for two or four person teams. They push an aerodynamically-designed sled down a 50 meter start course, jump into the sled, keeping it steady and straight, and careen down the course against the force of gravity. The force of gravity can reach as much as 5G, similar to the forces on fighter pilots.
Minimizing Drag and Air Resistance
After the bobsled team pushes off the sled, no further acceleration is possible, as the vehicles are not motorized. The smooth design of the bobsled, as well as the rubber surface of the suits competitors wear, are designed to minimize the amount of drag and air resistance that would slow them down.
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