Tuck to Win: The Effects of Aerodynamics on Speed Skiing

Overview

Objectives/Goals The intention of this science project was to study the affect of aerodynamics on speed in speed skiing. I intended to compare an athletic stance, a high tuck, a low tuck with hands in front of my face, and a low tuck with hands below my face. Methods/Materials I assumed that the fastest times would belong to the stance that was both low, and had my hands in front of my face. I designed an experiment in which I took around seven runs per stance, and recorded the time at four points on the set distance. I created a cubic function from my data, and used derivatives to find the instantaneous velocity and acceleration. I attempted to test stances in a wind tunnel that I had built, but it did not work. Results My data showed that the low tuck with my hands in front of my face had the highest acceleration and velocity. Conclusions/Discussion In conclusion, the type of tuck a ski racer assumes can greatly affect their speed, and thus their results. The most effective tuck is low, with the hands positioned in front of the skier's face.

Competition history

• CSEF 2005 Aerodynamics/ Hydrodynamics · Entry S0106

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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