SCIENCE FRICTION: All About the Physics of Curling

After watching countless hours of 2014 Olympic Game coverage from Sochi, Trace became curious about the actual physics behind curling. Curiosity got the best of him, and he decided to learn about it first hand by actually learning how to play from the professionals themselves!
Read More:
Everything You Need to Know About Curling at the Sochi Olympics
keepingscore.blogs.time.com/20...
"A quick guide to watching and enjoying the Winter Olympics' strangest sport."
Sochi 2014 Olympic Curling Schedule and Results
www.sochi2014.com/en/curling
What Exactly Is Curling?
mentalfloss.com/article/23982/...
"Olympic curling has taken to the ice, but if you're like most Americans, this writer included, the game is a bit baffling. Here's a quick, stripped-down primer on everyone's favorite icy alternative to shuffleboard."
Curling
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curling
"Curling is a sport which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area which is segmented into four concentric rings."
Special thanks to the SF Bay Area Curling Club and the Oakland Ice Center.
www.oaklandice.com/
www.bayareacurling.com/
Curling Club on Twitter:
@sfbacc
Mike Greenberg on Twitter:
@m_greenberg
Photo Credit © Mills, Andy/Star Ledger/Corbis
Watch More:
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TestTube Wild Card
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Physics of Figure Skating
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[@solidarity2049]

My favourite sport, I know a lot of people hate on it for being “lame” but it’s a fun and easy sport to pick up and play casually but extremlyyyyyy hard to be amazing at it. I’ve been curling 15 years and I still make mistakes that make or break a game cause I messed up a core mechanic. Very tough to master and very unforgiving

[@GaryLane080157]

Was hoping for some insight on what makes the stones curl????

[@jameshunt1822]

​@@GaryLane080157it's the spin put on it when you leave it

[@BigJayPee]

@@GaryLane080157 1:26 … there is ur answer 😊

[@Jen55412]

Started curling 8 years ago...its now my favorite sport. Incredibly easy to play but very difficult to be good. What I find interesting is that the haters with no experience know for sure the game is lame. After 1 year of curling I understood about 10% of what the game actually entailed. I still need more experience to watch a top tier game and understand why the skip calls for certain shots at certain times.

[@blakerobin2678]

i understand what you are saying but it still looks phenominally stupid

[@realnickmasters]

Good video, I play ice hockey and they do curling at my rink but I've never tried playing, but the science behind it has actually interested me in getting out there and giving it a go.

[@Dimsum.T]

it's weird that this made it as a sport in the olympics but not bowling

[@laser14344]

sweeping is quite the work-out.

[@Dimsum.T]

it still seem more like house chores than an actual sport.. maybe dish washing can be an olympic sport too

[@ShizzakGamer]

Someguy_xyz water polo shouldn't even be an Olympic sport

[@Lasersniper15]

Shizzak I disagree, it is very demanding and can be pretty violent as well. Considering the general consensus is, if it is underwater it is legal.

[@Lasersniper15]

Peik Visuri That may be true, but modern meaning of the word is, "an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment." Even though I would love to argue otherwise, esports and chess are technically not sports.

[@oolong2]

Someone needs to come along with some ideas to make curling interesting. Land mines maybe? Polar bears?

[@MinecraftxFan1995]

Land mines... LOL. Perfect.

[@moversti92]

Curl live 🐢

[@luvsilly60]

oolong2 Full contact curling. Shots or beers and curling. Swedish bikini curling team

[@ricoshaye5745]

yeah some obstacles maybe. Snowman, Yeti, Rudolph, Santa .............. lol

[@zaxflaya]

Combine it with luge.

[@ShawnHCorey]

The ice is pebbled because the rocks won't curl on flat ice. Brushing flattens the ice so the stone travels further and curls less. Also, the thrower calls the line, that is, will call "HARD" or "HURRY" if the stone is curling too much. The skip, the guy at the other end, will call the weight, that is, how far he thinks the stone will go. If he thinks it's going to be short, he'll call "HURRY" or "HARD". Sometimes the skip will call "CLEAN" which means cleans the ice in front of the stone but don't apply any pressure.

[@ShadowDrakken]

Great info, thanks!

[@spman2099]

***** Aren't you going to tell him about your theory? You know, about how the effectiveness of sweeping is "debatable".

[@GaryLane080157]

@@spman2099 it's very minimal but has some affect. Of course the longer distance, the more affect

[@mikemoloney6448]

no the skip calls the line and the weight the thrower only tells the sweepers if they think their weight is lite or heavy

[@Ral9284]

Neat sport, this requires some skill and team work. I am a fan since last winter. #curling #olympics2014

[@yziquamizzle]

Most educational curling coverage ever!

[@007MrYang]

I didn't even know this was a sport until I watched it on The Simpsons.

[@TransitioningBeauty]

The only Olympic sport dedicated solely to janitors

[@DutchessRoyal]

👍👍😂😂😂😂😂totally agree

[@gramps2matt]

This makes me appreciate the efforts of the Wheelchair Curlers in the Paralympics greater. Their aim has to be spot on accurate seeing as how they don't have the advantage of the sweepers also they stay stationary while sending the stone on its trajectory.

[@TheRucksackman]

props for the metric conversion! (:

[@OfficialPirateFraser]

i knew there was so much science behind this sport!!!

[@bookreader05]

Wow. I was just arguing with my mom about curling. It;s actually a physically demanding sport that has a lot of science and history. It's actually really fun. I've never tried ice curling, but I've played drive way

[@Munchkinross]

Curling has always fascinated me, then again, I come from Africa, and we don't get ice. But the science behind curling has always intrigued me, I never knew they sprinkled water first, you never see that part on the telly.

[@bambyzn1]

I love this sport!

[@GraeHall]

Genuinely interesting and informative. :)

[@TheGurumash]

Huh, and here I thought it started in Canada, I learned something today, neat.

[@charlesbarkema8021]

It was invented in Scotland in the 1500's,( 16th century)

[@FatalShotGG]

Nah we just mastered it.

[@VariantAEC]

These Olympic themed segments are a nice change of pace.

[@desertblbuesman]

I never thought I would learn so much about curling. There are a bunch of physics vids about curling. Cool. And I just realized I am a geek.

[@Xondil]

Icy what you did there.

[@Seeker]

you win.

[@Xondil]

DNews ;)

[@CariagaXIII]

Thanks *DNews* its not something i usually want to know, but now i know why they brush the ice

[@roelvaag]

Curling became an Olympic sport in 1998 at the Nagano Olympics, not in Salt Lake 2002. Also, the curling part of the 1924 Olympics in Chamonix was retroactively made official in 2006. So technically the first curling Olympics was in 1924, all though there were only three teams participating.

[@SergioAvila]

It would be nice to know the score and game details (sets, points, strategy, etc.)

[@SenorMatthew]

That's pretty cool actually!:D

[@KafshakTashtak]

no.

[@scotf7313]

They put droplets of water on the ice to reduce the surface friction, and then they brush it to melt the ice to reduce friction, can`t be both, brushing slows the stone down not speed it up.

[@GaryLane080157]

Like oiling the lanes in bowling. Have to keep up the process periodically.

[@lisa6422]

This looks fun

[@wertherscaramel4321]

Curling is my favourite sport, and I'm so glad you.guys did a segment on it. It's the only olympic sport I watch and care about. Hoping for gold from men and women this year!

[@max-andrewmcmillan4235]

ok a fellow traveler at last,...

[@lordjim24]

The bumps on the ice are meant to reduce friction. So how does heating the ice, and potentially melting those bumps, reduce friction as well?

[@g3tsiak547]

I'd guess that since the stones are hydrophobic, the little water that melts acts as a lubricant. The sweeping only melts a miniscule amount, not enough to ultimately remove the bumps, just enough to affect the stones.

[@tonylaxa9953]

Curling is the most exciting, intense sport I’ve ever seen. It rivals the ferocity and danger of Formula 1 racing and the skills of a #1 pound per pound champion boxer

[@garrettbeisel666]

One question I have is why when you spin a curling stone on ice it moves the direction of the spin, but if you spin something on a surface other than ice, it moves opposite the spin direction?

[@jessieboswachter]

friction acts in backward direction of the external force....

[@x9x9x9x9x9]

I guess I am in the minority here but curling is my favorite Olympic sport, and I am a snowboarder and skier. The problem is with these games the air times for curling is at like 4am so it is hard to watch since I don't have a DVR. I don't know why its my favorite but it is. I guess I just like relaxing and watching it. Maybe it brings me back to a time when I was sick and all messed up on tussinex (cough syrup with hydrocodone) maybe it is just the nostalgia of that but I love watching it. So much in fact during the 2010 winter games after I was sick I skipped school just to stay home and watch it.

[@generalhyde007]

Curling is awesome!

[@DaudiMajozi]

*Physics of Curling* this sport has more hard work and smarts required than I would have imagined. This video explains some of the physics involved in curling.

[@ConstantXplorer]

You know that's become one of my fave sports of the Olympics. I don't know why...it's kind of interesting.

[@DaudiMajozi]

kind of like shooting pool with huge stones on ice. lots of strategy, precision control, wow, i'm getting sucked into this thing

[@DaudiMajozi]

Ndati Agapitus exactly what happened to me yesterday!

[@Naked_Snake]

Man I miss this show

[@tanushkapoor5249]

Anyone else having to watch this for science?

[@Jaylen_E.]

Me 😢😅

[@thelinkofalllinks]

love curling. im only 21 and a friends asked me to join his team because he was in need of some players and so i did. never looked back plus whenever we loose we get free beer. ahahaha

[@Numbers_Game]

The best thing eva.

[@TaylorMade511]

I don't have cable t.v. I'm waiting for Curling to be broadcast on NBC.

[@rahelbakir8520]

Destine from smarter everyday said that the sweeping is to create more friction and now im confused

[@ThirstiCactus]

definitely more interesting now

[@GaryLane080157]

Was hoping for some insight on what makes the stones curl????

[@arog7493]

Yay Norway!

[@rath60]

The area of surface contact in no manner effects the friction force. The magnatude of thefriction force is equal to (mu)N where N is the magnatude of the normal force and mu is the friction coefficient. Can someone explain the value of makeing the floor ,py and the stone concave

[@indigothecat]

Trace looks good out on the ice!

[@looper1940]

A sport is a competitive physical activity with established rules between relatively equally skilled participants. Curling meets the definition, I think.

[@MoviMakr]

Gained some respect for curlers. Good video!

[@CrushersCharisma]

3:18 Trace grunts out "Melting Ice!" hahahaha

[@droptable1610]

I love curling and i go to the ice-hall every tuesday to cur (:

[@leoybeny]

Not too many people realize that Plato invented the sport and presented it at the very first Winter Olympics, right after the Wine Fest!!! Look it up!

[@caricariconbetin]

Y cuando se haran deportes olimpicos los juegos de "la rayita" el trompo, el valero y la" pericocha"?

[@muhammeddogan251]

you have not provided the purpose of this game? how is the winner determined?

[@naradathiracitta3121]

Why dont you practice to throw it accurately without brushing? Is it inconsistent for every throw?

[@cloroxbleach6673]

im applying for the hunger games to be an Olympic sport.....

[@CallOfDutyProOwner]

HAHA Try xDDDD

[@andrebrown319]

You all should do a video a boy the science of Olympic wrestling even though it won't be back till 2020

[@deepseablu91]

1:23 when I see someone I hate in the hallway

[@abdullahfathi869]

What's the name of this sport?

[@RRbattlefield]

I'd say it is far more interesting than golf and baseball!!!

[@rudratiwari7082]

what is the game ?first time i have been seen this type of game I could not understand. .....some one could help me to understand that game. .....

[@Jupiter1423]

When shuffle board and being a janitor come together you are called an ath-o-leet

[@pogiewogie]

Pity I can't play that where I live. No ice rink for at least 400 miles. And over a sea

[@ZarliWin]

Curling was invented in Scotland? That explains everything.. .p

[@brooklynguy-b4m]

Like golf?

[@max-andrewmcmillan4235]

how many times have you been to Scotland?

[@ricoshaye5745]

Fred Flintstones started it dude!

[@max-andrewmcmillan4235]

easy guys, wearing a kilt every day was not by choice

[@ShadowDrakken]

He never answered why curling is a sport. From what I saw here, it belongs in the Olympics about as much as pool or billards do. It's basically the same principles anyway.

[@ShadowDrakken]

***** sports are technically games still ;) But I see your point, that's probably a decent reason, although the amount of exercise is questionable, lol. I haven't done curling, but I've played bocce which is similar and there really isn't much physical to it.

[@Ryu62Alpha]

***** you're squatting more than half the time so it wrecks your legs, not to mention you actually need to really hone your ability to gauge distance, and speed very accurately. Hope that helps :)

[@Suriner1]

Well, that depends on how you define "sport".

[@johannesvahlkvist]

***** well... football, basketball, spear throw, call of duty, and league of legends are all games...

[@spman2099]

***** You don't sweep in Bocce... Which is what half of your team is doing when you are throwing a rock. You exert a lot more energy while sweeping than you do playing any position in Baseball. Do you question Baseball's legitimacy as a sport?

[@saure22]

Come on the uk ;p

[@stanr5787]

It might seem boring but is not when you are playing in teams

[@KafshakTashtak]

I still don't accept it as a "Sport", but at least I know what is curling.

[@Vidar_Odinson]

It's almost as if there are a lot of subjective activities being sports!

[@DejcoDoesStuff]

it's more sport than chess

[@Psychobob]

Sport - An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

[@DEAFMoNeKyzZ]

YAY FOR PAINTBALL! #MakePaintballAnOlympicSport

[@KafshakTashtak]

robpsychobob So sex is also sport? Who wants some training?

[@ajzebadua]

Curling is a great winter sport, and Canada rocks at it, eh ;)

[@cualquiercosache]

LOL That is the kind of sport you are good xD

[@ajzebadua]

Sergio Martinez If that's the only kind of sport we are good at, then how did we finish atop the medal rankings four years ago at home in Vancouver with the most amount of gold medals?

[@purplerabbit638]

Sergio Martinez We could prob beat your ass down back to whatever spanish-speaking country you're from.

[@ajzebadua]

purplerabbit Why are we insulting others based on their nationality when the Olympic Games are about bringing different nationalities together. Celebrate differences, don't discriminate based on differences.

[@Btraffers]

because this is the youtube comment section.....

[@erinspeaches]

"MELT-ING ICE!" :P

[@rowdy35967]

To everyone who thinks it's boring, watch a little bit of it and think "what's the smart move here?" Remember that you're setting up stones to score while also trying to block your opponent - it's like chess on ice. Whether you're sweeping for your life or trying to get the stone aimed just right, it's rather physically involved.

[@bjam89]

well i am guessing those that find it boring are the ones that think grown men ramming each other is fun to watch...aka american handegg

[@charlesbarkema8021]

It's like Bar shuffleboard, only on a larger scale.

[@GaviRG1]

bjam89 because watching grown men into ramming into eachither is fun to watch

[@hristosv1]

The only curls I do are on the squat rack ! :D

[@bigchefkoch1]

1:41 That's not true. Friction doesn't depend on the area that touches the ground. You can fully describe the friction force of a sliding object as the product of its weight and a specific friction coefficient. The area doesn't matter.

[@telephilia]

Ah,"The Roaring Game"!

[@Tripp393]

What happens when they come up with an electric broom

[@harrymartin9033]

Didnt realise explain the Science behind why brushing the ice allows the curling stone to travel further - Must be friction related?

[@davidbonet578]

You are wrong about the origin of the name for Curling and you are wrong about the source of the rocks. There is a place in Canada which is also a source of thr granite but not used anymore. The Trefor quarry in Wales is a supplier for all of Canada

[@mattk154]

So, wait? The same people who invented golf also invented curling?? LOLZ :D

[@jewlouds]

what do you mean who knew how much science? every sport is science!

[@outlier227]

Friction does not depend on surface area... what is the REAL reason that the stones aren't flat on the bottom?

[@godprogamer2214]

wow

[@BrandyManuel]

So Curling is like pool... but with brooms. I get it!

[@olufsen98]

With how much attention the Norwegian curling guys (or rather their pants) are getting, you'd think they would at least be professional curlers, but nope. Last time I heard, they still have regular jobs back in Norway.

[@iamthamon1]

believing that there was a kid version on a certain game show that I can't say

[@toysmostwanted]

Went here after the effective communication Short

[@LynneSkysong]

Because he knows he's got to curl! C'mon baby put the rock in the house

[@epiphonedk]

I think curling is the most exciting sport in the Olympics. So much suspense!! Go Denmark!! :-)

[@PrestonTullos]

The Olympic committee considers this a sport but not (American) Football??

[@GreatestGamer9000]

Because American Football sucks

[@oliverthorne9566]

There's a reason it's called American football. There aren't very many countries that have national teams in American football other than the U.S. It's the same with cricket and rugby, not many countries have official national teams. Also, it's not a very fitting sport for the Olympics since it requires commercials or some other distraction every 30 seconds.

[@PrestonTullos]

Oliver Thorné Good point about most counties not having national football teams.

[@max-andrewmcmillan4235]

American football is only a prostitute for the TV

[@kevtheman7226]

I think because not enough countries play American football

[@sonidoparia]

so that is a sport? Well i dont know, maybe it could be a grate sport for people who dont like sports.

[@Adriansofresh]

I feel like the sweeping part should be illegal.

[@TheeRomeoO]

So pebbling reduces friction but brushing it away doesn't increase it? WTF

[@summerlove2020able]

Such*

[@xXnoxshameXx]

The video said WHY CURLING IS A SPORT now im on it and it says ALL ABOUT THE PHYSICS OF CURLING Why? i wanted to know why anyway, not about the physics, but why do this?? False advertisement

[@luismadafaka8648]

so what are they screaming all the time?

[@danny_yeets]

Luis Madafaka it's communication

[@mcaddicts]

It became an official olympic sport in 98. And was a offical sport at the first winter olympics. Its also the oldies codified winter sport.

[@SomeoneElse395]

curling is the only olympic sport in which you are allowed to drink while playing

[@samyish]

Nice try Dnews, but I'm not convinced.

[@Divirse]

I don't understand! How is this fun?

[@acurlingboy]

something wrong : curling was olympic on 1998, Nagano, as an official sport...

[@ZombiePanda402]

I was expecting some weights to be involved.... Bummer

[@melovetorun]

1998

[@Sniiigel]

Less contact between surfaces doesn't (in theory) mean less friction.

[@sirdudal0t]

Surely you're trolling Mr. Fyhr

[@Sniiigel]

HellGod67 Friction: Ff ≤ µFn Ff is the force of friction exerted by each surface on the other. It is parallel to the surface, in a direction opposite to the net applied force. µ is the coefficient of friction, which is an empirical property of the contacting materials. Fn is the normal force exerted by each surface on the other, directed perpendicular (normal) to the surface. Area in contact is nowhere to be found. - Also see Amontons' Second Law of friction. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friction#Laws_of_dry_friction

[@Sniiigel]

DNews You should adress this in a common misconceptions video.

[@sirdudal0t]

Dennis Fyhr Yup, you're right, and it really makes sense after I think about it. Kinda like the whole "two objects of different mass fall at the same rate" thing. I do object to just using "Ff ≤ µFn" to prove your point though. That formula shows what the friction force could possibly be given the friction coefficient and normal. People that don't know any physics also need to know that that friction coefficient is derived without a given area. But again, you're totally right. I love it when people are totally right and someone tries to say they're not and then the first person drops a science bomb on their ass.