Physicist and stunt rider create world’s first ‘Einstein Flip’
A unique BMX stunt, created in a collaboration between a physicist and one of the UK’s top international stunt riders, was performed for the first time today (5th Jan 2005) to mark the launch of Einstein Year at the Science Museum in London.
A unique BMX stunt, created in a collaboration between a physicist and one of the UK’s top international stunt riders, was performed for the first time today (5th Jan 2005) to mark the launch of Einstein Year at the Science Museum in London.
Einstein was a keen cyclist and although there is no evidence to suggest he ever attempted a “360-degree back-flip with table-top”, or even a humble wheelie, it is claimed that inspiration for his theory of Special Relativity came to him while riding his bicycle.
One hundred years after the publication of his landmark papers on Special Relativity, Brownian Motion and the Photoelectric Effect, cycling and science will come together once more in another world first: a BMX bicycle stunt designed by a physicist.
The stunt was performed live and for the first time on 5th Jan 2005 at the official launch of Einstein Year at London’s Science Museum. It was commissioned by the Institute of Physics to mark the beginning of a year-long celebration of physics. Einstein Year is the UK’s contribution to the International Year of Physics in 2005.
Caitlin Watson, Einstein Year project manager, said: “Einstein Year is all about challenging people’s perceptions of physics – especially young people’s perceptions.
“Physics relates to all of our lives - from fun things like fizzy drinks to life-saving medical imaging technology. This innovative bike stunt is the perfect way of illustrating how fun and relevant physics can be to young people.”
Dubbed the ‘Einstein Flip’, the stunt is described as ‘pushing the boundaries of what it is humanly possible to do on a bike’ by Cambridge University physicist Helen Czerski, who collaborated with professional BMX rider Ben Wallace to create the manoeuvre.
In the stunt, 18-year-old Wallace, a competitor in extreme sports events around the world, launched off a six-feet high ramp and spun backwards through 360 degrees while simultaneously folding his bike underneath him in a move known to BMX devotees as a ‘tabletop’. At one point, onlookers saw Wallace upside down, travelling at 15mph, with his head 12-feet off the floor.
Czerski, a keen sportswoman and diver herself, said: “I spent a lot of time looking at the physics behind various stunts, trying to understand the limits of what is physically possible to determine how far we could push the parameters with our new creation. I then tested our ideas using a computer simulation to plot a new stunt.”
The stunt draws upon a variety of physics theories including the conservation of angular momentum and Newton's laws of motion.
Helen added: ‘When I first started to work out the details of this trick, I wondered if it was physically possible. But I did the maths - calculating Ben’s trajectory, where he will be at different times in the air, the shape and height of the ramp, his velocity and so on - and found that yes, it could work. Having said that, I wouldn’t want try this myself - however much I trust my physics calculations! There is simply no room for error.’
Ben would know: perfecting his repertoire of daring jumps, spins and tricks has cost him many bruises and broken bones. Although physics has helped him become a better rider, Ben says a healthy disregard for the laws of common sense will be almost as vital to his performance.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
A factsheet on ‘The Physics Of The Einstein Flip’ is available to download here (PDF).
Information about Einstein Year events for the media is available to download here (PDF).
Photographs/filming and interviews with the Cambridge University physicist, BMX rider and the Institute of Physics are available upon request – in advance or on the day of the launch.
For further media information, please contact Peter Bowles or Lawrence Hall at mission21 on 0845 226 0803 or mobile 07944 918576
Albert Einstein was born on 14 March 1879 in Ulm, Wurttemberg, Germany and died on 18th April 1955 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. On the subject of Special relativity, the iconic physicist is extensively quoted as saying: ‘I thought of that while riding my bicycle.’ A factsheet with facts and figures about Einstein’s life is available.
Einstein Year is the UK & Ireland's contribution to International Year of Physics and marks the centenary of the publication in 1905 of Einstein's three ground-breaking papers on Special relativity, the Photoelectric effect and Brownian motion. These papers provided the foundation of modern physics, and activities throughout Einstein Year will explore ideas in contemporary physics as well as showing how our everyday lives are influenced by his legacies. Einstein Year is being coordinated by the Institute of Physics. For more information on any aspect of the year, including how you can get involved, please contact: Caitlin Watson, email: caitlin.watson@iop.org , tel: 020 7470 4814, fax: 020 7470 4991.
The Institute of Physics is a leading international professional body and learned society with over 37,000 members, which promotes the advancement and dissemination of knowledge of and education in the science of physics, pure and applied. It has a worldwide membership and is a major international player in: scientific publishing and electronic dissemination of physics, setting professional standards for physicists and awarding professional qualifications, promoting physics through scientific conferences, education and science policy advice.
Released: 2005/01/05
