NBCUniversal

Olympic athletes, trainers and a sports scientist and chemist explain why cross-country skiers are among the fittest athletes in the world.

Gravity, friction, and energy are the physics behind the gasp-worthy tricks of snowboarders.

Olympic skis are made of fiberglass and polymers engineered to give the right flexibility and more.

Skates used by Olympians are custom-engineered by materials scientists to meet the demands for each sport.

The slapshot is explained by Thomas Humphrey, Kathy FLores, and Olympic hockey players Julie Chue and Zach Parise.

Sending the 42-lb. granite curling stone down a long sheet of ice toward the center of a bull's-eye target is all about friction and surface physics.

Helmets are extremely important in protecting Winter Olympic competitors.

The organization of human cells through training, exercise and "muscle memory" produce the fantastic range of Olympic motion.

Arithmetic and math are part of every Winter Olympic event and every move Olympic athletes make on snow or ice.

Learn how Olympic figure skaters do triple axels and quadruple toe loops.