Gymnastics is all about skill, strength, and flexibility—but did you know it’s also a masterclass in physics? Every flip, twist, and balance move is made possible thanks to forces like momentum, gravity, and angular velocity.
With National Science Day coming up on February 28th, there’s no better time to explore how physics makes gymnastics possible. Whether you’re a gymnast looking to improve your technique or just someone who loves understanding how things work, here’s a look at the science behind some of the sport’s most incredible skills.
🤸♂️ The Role of Physics in Gymnastics
Gymnastics might look effortless, but every movement is a careful balance of force, motion, and control. Let’s break down the key physics concepts that help gymnasts perform their gravity-defying moves.
1️⃣ Gravity: The Force That Brings You Back Down
Every gymnast, no matter how powerful, is working against gravity. When you jump, gravity pulls you back down—which means the only way to get more airtime is to apply more force when taking off.
🔬 Example: When Simone Biles performs her Yurchenko double pike vault, she generates an enormous amount of force in her run-up and takeoff, allowing her to stay in the air long enough to complete two full flips before landing.
📖 Further Reading: BBC Bitesize - Gravity and Forces
2️⃣ Momentum: The Key to Powerful Tumbling
Momentum is what keeps gymnasts moving once they take off. The faster and stronger the takeoff, the more momentum they carry through their flips and twists.
🔬 Example: A round-off before a backflip isn’t just for show—it builds horizontal momentum, which gets converted into vertical lift for the flip. That’s why adding a round-off makes backflips easier than just jumping straight up.
📖 Further Reading: Khan Academy - Momentum and Collisions
3️⃣ Angular Momentum: The Secret to Spinning in the Air
Ever wondered how gymnasts can twist and flip so fast? That’s angular momentum—the rotational version of regular momentum. Once a gymnast starts spinning, they stay spinning unless something (like friction or air resistance) slows them down.
🔬 Example: When a gymnast pulls their arms in during a twist, they reduce their moment of inertia, making them spin faster—just like an ice skater pulling their arms in to increase their spin speed.
📖 Further Reading: Physics Classroom - Angular Momentum
4️⃣ The Importance of Balance and Centre of Mass
Staying balanced on a beam only 10cm wide is no easy feat. Gymnasts must keep their centre of mass directly above their base of support—otherwise, gravity wins, and they fall.
🔬 Example: When gymnasts perform a handstand on the beam, they make small adjustments to their arms and core to keep their centre of mass perfectly aligned. The lower the centre of mass, the more stable the position—hence why bent-arm handstands feel easier than fully extended ones.
📖 Further Reading: Institute of Physics - Stability and Centre of Mass
🏅 Famous Gymnastics Skills Explained by Science
🌀 The Biles (Triple-Double Floor Pass)
Simone Biles’ famous triple-double (three twists, two flips) is a perfect example of physics at its best. She maximises:
Momentum with a powerful takeoff
Angular velocity by pulling her arms in to twist faster
Control by spotting her landing early
📖 Watch It Here: Biles Triple-Double Breakdown
🏗 The Iron Cross (Still Rings)
Holding an Iron Cross on the rings isn’t just about brute strength—it’s about torque and equilibrium. Gymnasts counteract gravity by engaging every muscle to keep their arms horizontal, which requires enormous torque to stay balanced.
📖 Further Reading: Scientific American - The Strength of a Gymnast
🚀 Vaulting Heights (How Gymnasts Get So Much Air)
Vaults like the Produnova (the infamous “Death Vault”) rely on Newton’s Third Law: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Gymnasts push hard against the vault table, and in return, the vault propels them upward with equal force.
📖 Further Reading: NASA - Newton's Laws in Sports
🧐 Why Understanding Physics Helps Gymnasts Improve
Knowing the science behind skills doesn’t just make you sound smart—it can actually make you a better gymnast. Here’s why:
✔️ Better Technique: Understanding momentum and force helps gymnasts maximise their power in tumbling and vaulting.
✔️ Faster Twisting & Flipping: Learning how to control angular momentum can make flips and twists feel smoother.
✔️ Safer Landings: Knowing about centre of mass and balance helps gymnasts stick landings instead of toppling forward.
Even if physics isn’t your thing, appreciating how science helps you jump higher, flip faster, and land cleaner can give you a real edge in training.
🔬 Science Makes Gymnastics Possible
Next time you see an incredible gymnastics routine, remember: it’s not just skill—it’s science in action. Whether you’re working on a cartwheel or a double twist, physics is the key to going higher, rotating faster, and landing stronger.
Got a favourite gymnastics skill that seems to defy science? Let us know in the comments! Or check out more gymnastics tips and insights over on our Facebook page.
Happy flipping—both in the gym and in your physics textbook! 📚🤸♀️
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