Launching from the three-metre springboard or dropping from the 10-metre platform, divers perform a dizzying combination of flips and twists, somersaults and rotations in both pike (legs straight) and tuck (legs pulled close to the body) positions that are awarded points based on their level of difficulty and execution.
Divers compete individually or as part of a two-person team (synchronized).
Canada’s female divers are some of the best in the world, but they’ll have to fend off some fierce competition from their Mexican rivals. At the Guadalajara 2011 Pan Am Games, Canada came in second in the total medal count with two silver and two bronze. Their Mexican rivals came out on top with eight gold, three silver and one bronze medal, while the U.S. came third with two silver and one bronze.
*taken from http://www.toronto2015.org/diving. Click link to learn more.
Divers compete individually or as part of a two-person team (synchronized).
Canada’s female divers are some of the best in the world, but they’ll have to fend off some fierce competition from their Mexican rivals. At the Guadalajara 2011 Pan Am Games, Canada came in second in the total medal count with two silver and two bronze. Their Mexican rivals came out on top with eight gold, three silver and one bronze medal, while the U.S. came third with two silver and one bronze.
*taken from http://www.toronto2015.org/diving. Click link to learn more.
Challenge #1: Construct a diving board or platform
Use the Engineering Design Process (ask, imagine, plan, create, improve) to design and build a model/protoype of a springboard or platform diving tower using the minimum quantity of materials (by mass) possible.
Be prepared to communicate your design decisions.
If you are unfamiliar with springboards, watch the following video:
- You may use classroom materials (e.g., glue, craft sticks, cardboard, paper, etc).
- The tower must withstand external forces such as wind (to be tested by a fan).
- It must support a "diver" with a mass of 500 g.
- Ask
- Imagine
- Plan
- Create
- Improve
Be prepared to communicate your design decisions.
If you are unfamiliar with springboards, watch the following video:
In our class, we do not have materials like acrylic, fiberglass, a mould, or a high powered oven so you will need to be creative! Even though the materials may differ, you may use some of the strategies mentioned in the video to strengthen your springboard.
*Adapted from Cisco iCanLearn "Discover Science Throught Sport" curriculum.