LUGE

By: Cody VanOssAdam Marx

The Rules

• Males must weigh at least 198 lbs.• Females must weigh at least 165 lbs.• The single sled cannot weigh over 50.6 lbs.• The double sled cannot weigh over 59.5 lbs.• Racing suits cannot weigh more then 8.8 lbs.• Sleds cannot have mechanical brakes.

Single’s Race

• There is male and female single races.

• It consists of 4 runs.

• All of them count towards the final time.

Double’s Race

• Consists of 2 runs each.

• Both times are added for final score.

• The winner has the lowest combined time.

Timing

• The race is timed to the thousandth of a second.

Photoelectric Sensors• The sensors are used at the start and finish.• The light transmitter is on one side of the track and the

receiver is on the other.• At the start the slider starts the timer when they cross the line

because it covers the light beam.• The sensors do the same at the finish.

Force and Inertia

The racer needs to propel the racing unit onto the course with as much force as possible to overcome its inertia. By rocking back and forth at the top of the track, the unit needs to pick up enough momentum to propel themselves quickly for a good start.

Gravity and Friction

At the slopes beginning, the slider lays down and lets gravity take over. The higher the weight of the slider, the faster he/she will go. One of the things that stands in the way of gravity is friction. To reduce friction from the sleds, the slider will polish the steel skates on the bottom.

Aerodynamic Drag

Another force acting against gravity is aerodynamic drag. In Luge, when air runs over the top of the rider it reacts with the materials on the helmet and suit. This results in air friction.

Training

• Start is most important part of race.• So you must build a lot of upper-body strength

for the starting of the race.• Hand strength is also required.• In summer months Luge racers build upper

body muscles in swimming and weight training.

Natural-Track Luge

• Made of packed snow and ice

• The slope is no greater than one degree.

• Speeds reach up to 50 mph.

Artificial-Track Luge

• Steeper and high banked turns with an average slope of 5 or 6 degrees.

• Speeds reach up to 90 mph.

• This is the track the Olympics use.

Sources

• http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/snow-sports/luge.htm

• http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/enlarge-image.htm?terms=Luge&page=0