Designing a Bobsled
The 2014 Sochi Bobsled Competitions are almost at a close, with only the four-man races left to run. Like many of the events we see in these Winter Games, the technology of the competition has changed dramatically since the first games in 1924. Then, the four man bobsled was literally that, four men on a sled bobbing down the track in Chamoinx, France. Today’s infographic shows what does into the designing and construction of a modern bobsled, following the process of the 2014 Bronze Medal winning US Men’s team and their Night Train 2 sled. [VIA]
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Tags: bobsled, education, engineering, infographic, Olympics, reference, Sochi, sports, Winter Olympics
The Basics of Curling
Continuing with the Winter Olympics theme, today’s infographic explains the basic rules and characteristics of the game of curling. Dating back to 16th century Scotland, the game was first played on frozen lochs, but today has been more standardized and is played in indoor arenas. First played in the 1924 Olympics, curling was gone again as a medal sport until the 1998 Nagano Games (Curling in the Olympics). Unfortunately, here in the US, the sport is only a once every four years phenomenon, but the devotion to it is a testament to the intricacy of the game, the strategy, precision, gamesmanship — not to mention fun pants. [VIA]
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Tags: curling, education, infographic, Olympics, reference, sports, Winter Olympics
Daily Photo — “Sochi Olympic Park at Night, from Space”
Use the photos posted in this feature for writing prompts, warm-up activities, drawing templates or as part of a photo analysis.
This beautiful photo was taken from the International Space Station and shows the Sochi Olympic Park as it appears at night.
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Tags: 2014 Olympics, ISS, NASA, Olympic Games, Olympics, photos, Russia, Sochi, space, warm-ups, Winter Olympics, writing
Ski Jump Aerodynamics
The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics are in full swing, with several medals already awarded and many more yet to come. Today (or tonight, depending on when you are able to watch), we will see the premiere of a new event to the Games, the women’s Ski Jump. Today’s infographic is a nod to those ladies, as well as a great illustration of the physics involved in the event. It’s not as easy as it might look to us sitting on the couch! [VIA]
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Tags: education, infographic, Olympics, reference, Ski Jumping, skiiing, Sochi, sports, Winter Olympics
Different Types of Skates
With the Winter Olympic Games beginning today, it’s time to start thinking and looking at some of the fun events that occur and become the focus of the world for about two weeks every four years. Todays infographic examines the three different types of skates that you might see in these Olympics — figure, hockey, and speed skates. [VIA]
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Tags: education, figure skating, hockey, infographic, Olympics, reference, skating, speed skating, sports, Winter Olympics
Daily Photo — “Sarajevo Bobsledding”
Use the photos posted in this feature for writing prompts, warm-up activities, drawing templates or as part of a photo analysis
Abandoned after the 1984 Winter Olympic Games, this is the current view of a portion of the bobsledding and luge track in Sarajevo.

Tags: abandoned, history, nature, Olympic Games, Olympics, photos, Sarajevo, sports, warm-ups, Winter Olympics, writing