Of course, the ice on the luge course minimizes the potential for friction on the surface. Lugers attempt to further reduce the force of friction by using the most slippery materials possible to construct the luge itself. The weight of the luger places pressure on the ice, melting it and creating a slippery layer of water that further reduces friction. But there are rules about overcoming friction. Another physical force involved with luge is gravity.
Gravity causes acceleration and helps the luge move.
The forward motion is balanced by the friction of air pushing against the luge. Because of this air friction, designers must use aerodynamic principles to reduce the wind drag to a bare minimum. Often they use tight rubberized suits, special helmets with rounded face shields or smooth sleds designed with a low center of gravity. Things to Talk About Oftentimes, lugers are filmed on high speed video that is then converted to computer graphics to analyze performance. The use of this technology is a trend in modern sports and in the Olympics.