Book 28, Question 35 · Video
How do divers do somersaults?
A diver leaves the board with a bit of spin. By curling into a tight ball, called a tuck, the diver spins faster, just like a skater pulling in the arms. Just before the water, the diver stretches out straight, which slows the spin and lets them enter with a small splash. Divers train for years to time this perfectly.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How do divers do somersaults?
The Big Idea
Divers flip and twist through the air! Then they slice into the water. How do they do it?
A Little Spin
Step one: A Little Spin. A diver leaves the board with a bit of spin. That spin is the start of every somersault.
The Tuck
Step two: The Tuck. By curling into a tight ball, called a tuck, the diver spins faster. It's just like a skater pulling in the arms.
Stretching Out
Step three: Stretching Out. Just before the water, the diver stretches out straight, which slows the spin and lets them enter with a small splash. Divers train for years to time this perfectly.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! Start spinning. Spin faster. Slow down. Small splash.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Divers are in the air for under two seconds on a 10-meter platform. Tucking speeds spin. Stretching slows spin. Aim for a small splash.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Draw a diver leaving the board. Draw the diver tucking. Draw the diver stretching out. Draw the diver entering the water. Mark where the spin is fastest.
Outro
Divers leave the board with a little spin, then curl into a tight tuck to spin faster, like a skater pulling in their arms. Just before the water, they stretch out straight to slow the spin and make a small splash. Science is amazing! Keep asking questions! The more you look around, the more wonders you will find, so keep your eyes open! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!