Short Wave The physics of the Winter Olympics
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Feb 10, 2026 
Amy Pope, a physics lecturer who teaches Physics of Sports, explains Winter Olympic mechanics. Short takes cover ski mountaineering and how skins change friction uphill. She talks ski jump aerodynamics, V position and suit tweaks that affect lift. There’s also a quick look at bobsled energy, push starts and why sprinters help speed.
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Class Born From A Football Meeting Realization
- Amy Pope invented her Physics of Sports class after realizing students knew practical physics from playing sports.
- She flipped teaching by starting with sports examples to explain physics concepts.
Skimo Uses Directional Friction To Climb
- Ski mountaineering uses skins with directional friction to let athletes climb by sliding up but prevent sliding back down.
- Athletes switch to rigid boot mode and remove skins when slope gets too steep to ski down efficiently.
Ski Jumpers Generate Lift Like Wings
- Ski jumpers shape their bodies and skis to create lift from moving air and minimize drag.
- Maintaining an optimal angle of attack maximizes lift so jumpers stay aloft much longer than a thrown object.