Physics of Trampolining (with Bryony Page) | Physics and Astronomy at Sheffield

How did physics help University of Sheffield graduate Bryony Page win an Olympic medal in trampolining? We teamed her up with physics lecturer Dr Matt Mears to explain the science behind her sport while she trained for the Trampoline World Championships in Japan.

[@anjaliclark5398]

This is really interesting. I do trampoline gymnastics myself and I'm actually doing a physics project on it lol

[@voyd8750]

Same lol

[@mulciber1212]

@Science at Sheffield:
In the competition clips she does double forward somersault with a 1½ spin on the second rotation.
How, considering conservation of momentum, can she start the 1½ spin mid-air?
Gymnast myself, and I can do it too, less elegant, so I can tell you how I'd do it, but I haven't found the physics explanation for why that should work :P

[@tinaloye2014]

I get so dizzy doing this, bravo to her.

[@franklinbrown7389]

I feel like your missing the most important aspect of what makes a trampoline work. Much like a swing in a tree it works because you are adding energy at its resonate frequency. If you stand still I bet your first jump will never be higher than on the ground. You need to pump your legs or jump at resonate frequency a few times to get any higher. Now try to get higher by jumping at a different rhythm. You will never go very high.

[@verabolton]

And how does she stop so suddenly at the end?

[@mia_4623]

It’s hard to explain but your just bend your knees and you kind of just stop