Many would call the figure skating events the most elegant of all of the winter Olympic sports. The spins. The tosses. The leaps. How on earth do they stay in balance? Find out by watching the latest installment of the Science and Engineering of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, the video series created by NBC Learn and NSF that delivers a behind-the-scenes look at what the medal-seeking athletes really do.
The Engineering Design component of the Inquiry Guide in the NSTA-developed lesson plans explores the idea of how pairs figure skaters move back-and-forth between two independent systems and one cohesive system. The definition of a system can figure prominently in how engineers develop models. What, exactly, constitutes the system under study? Are aspects of the system really functioning independently, and are simply in the same space at the same time? If so, can the behavior of the independent systems be predicted so that one can predict how the larger, single system works?
This is just one question that illustrates where the processes of science and engineering overlap. Compare and contrast the Science Inquiry and the Engineering Design Inquiry in each of the Inquiry Guides for these videos to get a better understanding of how to talk about and incorporate engineering design processes in your investigations.
Figure skating events continue through February 20. Watch for Gracie Gold to nail her leaps. Then show your students how she uses science to do it. The video series, available cost-free, is on www.NBCLearn.com and www.science360.gov. Link to the downloadable lesson plans below. Let us know what you think—inquiring minds want to know!
 
Video
Physics of Figure Skating discusses the important concepts of center of mass and projectile motion in figure skating.
Lesson Plans
Physics of Figure Skating Integration Guide spells out the STEM in the video and gives you mini-activities and ideas for research, teamwork, projects, and interdisciplinary connections.
Physics of Figure Skating Inquiry Guide models a science inquiry into predicting and finding the location of the center of mass of a system AND an engineering design inquiry focusing on identifying parts of a system and developing a model for defining a system.
Photo of figure skating in action in Sochi courtesy of Atos International.
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