Science of the Winter Olympic Games - Engineering the Half Pipe

The video explores Shaun White's snowboarding achievements, focusing on his signature trick, the Double McTwist 1260. It delves into the engineering and design of the halfpipe, highlighting the importance of wall height and curvature for speed and airtime. The concept of centripetal acceleration is explained, showing how it affects snowboarders like White. The video also discusses advancements in halfpipe design, which have allowed snowboarders to achieve greater airtime without increasing physical forces on their bodies.

What year did Shaun White win his first gold medal in the snowboard halfpipe event?

• 2002

• 2006

• 2010

• 2014

What is a crucial factor in the design of a halfpipe that allows snowboarders to gain speed?

• The height of the walls

• The color of the snow

• The temperature of the air

• The type of snowboard used

What is centripetal acceleration?

• The speed of an object in a straight line

• Acceleration that changes direction

• The force that pulls objects outward

• The rate of change in speed

How many times his own weight does Shaun White carry through a turn due to centripetal acceleration?

• 3.5 times

• 4.5 times

• 1.5 times

• 2.5 times

What would Shaun White need to do to achieve twice as much airtime?

• Use a lighter snowboard

• Increase his speed by almost half

• Perform fewer tricks

• Decrease his speed by half

How have the dimensions of the halfpipe changed since its Olympic debut?

• The radius has decreased

• The size has doubled

• The walls have become shorter

• The width has narrowed

What is the benefit of a larger radius in halfpipe design?

• It shortens the length of the halfpipe

• It makes the halfpipe more colorful

• It reduces the forces on the snowboarder's body

• It increases the difficulty of tricks