From the rush of a luge speeding down a track to soaring ski jumps, physics students are exploring how physics powers some of the world’s most thrilling Olympic sports in a hands-on project.

“Instead of always working with formulas, it’s easier for students to visualize energy conservation through actual movements and examples they can watch on TV, like sports,” physics teacher Jamie Berendt said. “With this project, students can see how energy transfers back and forth between potential and kinetic energy in real-world scenarios like Olympic sports.” 

Junior Meenal Ahlawat’s group illustrated energy concepts using “luge,” a lesser-known winter sport where athletes race down an icy track on a flat sled while lying on their backs. 

“Our project shows how different Olympic sports use potential and kinetic energy,” Ahlawat said. “For our drawing, we’re illustrating a luge track. At the top of the track, there’s potential energy, and as the person goes down, it transforms into kinetic energy.”

According to the 2024 Gitnux MarketData Report, 90% of students polled believe they learn better with hands-on learning methods. For junior Kristen Yamashita, this sentiment is no different, as she believes that interactive learning helps deepen understanding. 

“It’s a great hands-on experience,” junior Kristen Yamashita said. “You get more practice and a better understanding of the concepts than just learning from a textbook.”