Summary
In this episode of Star Talk Sports Edition, the hosts delve into the physics of winter sports with guest speaker Charles Luke, a professor of astronomy and physics at the City University of New York at Staten Island. The hosts answer questions from their Patreon listeners about various winter sports, including skiing, curling, bobsledding, luge, and skeleton. They discuss the properties of ice and how it affects the performance of skiers, as well as the importance of finding the right balance between fluffy and icy snow for skiing competitions. They also explain how Newton's three laws of motion apply to curling and how the interaction between the curling stone and the ice is still a subject of ongoing research.
The hosts also touch on the potential impacts of climate change on winter sports and the possibility of adaptive athletes having an advantage in interplanetary Olympics. They mention that some traditional ski areas in Switzerland and France are already struggling to get enough snow, while other areas may experience more snow and ice due to polar vortices. The hosts also discuss the idea of creating sports specifically for power athletes in a new world, such as in space, where dynamics change. They emphasize the importance of adapting to new environments and finding ways to make sports and recreation fun for everyone.
Throughout the episode, the hosts maintain a friendly and informative tone, providing detailed explanations of the physics behind various winter sports. They also feature a guest, Dr. Peter Veals, who makes artificial snow, adding to the depth of knowledge shared in the episode. Overall, this episode is a great resource for anyone interested in the science behind winter sports and the potential impacts of climate change on these sports in the future.
