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Posts by National Science Foundation

Science of the Summer Olympics: The Biomechanics of Usain Bolt

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Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt holds the World and Olympic records for the fastest time in the 100-meter sprint. Bolt’s stride, strength, and muscle coordination make him not just a biomechanical marvel, but also a gold medal favorite at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The National Science Foundation partnered with NBC Learn and NBC Sports to celebrate the science, engineering and technology that are helping athletes maximize their performance at the 2012 London Olympic Games. This free 10-part educational video series explores the engineering and technology concepts behind the games. In addition, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) will be providing free lesson plans for each video. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 10, 2012 at 10:00 AM

Science of the Summer Olympics: The Impact of Jenny Simpson

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Many runners suffer injuries to their joints due to the repeated impact of their feet hitting the ground, and it take more than just sheer force of will to turn a career-crippling injury into another shot at Olympic competition. U.S. runner Jenny Simpson relied on new treadmill technology to help rehabilitate from a stress fracture as she trained for the 2012 Summer Olympics, where she continued to the semifinals in the 1500m relay.

The National Science Foundation partnered with NBC Learn and NBC Sports to celebrate the science, engineering and technology that are helping athletes maximize their performance at the 2012 London Olympic Games. This free 10-part educational video series explores the engineering and technology concepts behind the games. In addition, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) will be providing free lesson plans for each video. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 9, 2012 at 10:00 AM

Science of the Summer Olympics: The Strength and Flexibility of Oscar Pistorius

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South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius is the first double-amputee athlete to compete at the Olympics. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Pistorius will race in the 400 meter race and 4×400 meter relay using a pair of carbon fiber prosthetic legs engineered to store and release energy from the impact of his strides.

The National Science Foundation partnered with NBC Learn and NBC Sports to celebrate the science, engineering and technology that are helping athletes maximize their performance at the 2012 London Olympic Games. This free 10-part educational video series explores the engineering and technology concepts behind the games. In addition, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) will be providing free lesson plans for each video. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 8, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Science of the Summer Olympics: Sarah Robles and the Mechanics of Weightlifting

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The National Science Foundation partnered with NBC Learn and NBC Sports to celebrate the science, engineering and technology that are helping athletes maximize their performance at the 2012 London Olympic Games. This free 10-part educational video series explores the engineering and technology concepts behind the games. In addition, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) will be providing free lesson plans for each video.

U.S. weightlifter Sarah Robles will rely on an athletic mix of strength, speed and timing to help create explosive power when she competes at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Robotics engineer Brian Zenowich compares Robles’ movements to those made by the WAM Arm, one of the world’s most advanced robotic arms. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 7, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Science Of The Summer Olympics: Measuring A Champion

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The National Science Foundation partnered with NBC Learn and NBC Sports to celebrate the science, engineering and technology that are helping athletes maximize their performance at the 2012 London Olympic Games. This free 10-part educational video series explores the engineering and technology concepts behind the games. In addition, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) will be providing free lesson plans for each video.

Timing is everything, especially at the 2012 Summer Olympics where even a millisecond could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Linda Milor, an electrical engineer at Georgia Institute of Technology, explains why Olympic timekeeping technology must be able to measure an athlete’s performance with both accuracy and precision. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 6, 2012 at 3:00 PM