SAILing through summer

  Learning all about the "Physics of Rock Climbing"

An understanding of some basic physics is crucial for the safe use of climbing gear, says Dietrich Belitz (pictured, top right), a professor of condensed matter theory and associate dean for natural sciences at the University of Oregon. For instance, he explains, how exactly one threads a loop of webbing through an anchor to set up a belay, or a rappel, can make a huge difference in the forces on the anchor bolts, even though the load on the rope is the same. Some of these effects are not very intuitive, so understanding the concepts behind them helps a lot. Belitz taught a session on the physics of rock climbing. Read a full story on SAIL in the Cascade, the biannual alumni magazine for the UO College of Arts and Sciences.