The graphs below are excerpted from Volume 1 of Glide, Spin, & Jump: The Science of Ice Skating, as well as a free pamphlet from the publisher. These graphs show a child's double-runner skate being pulled along a piece of real ice with a force meter, while position, velocity, and acceleration are measured by a motion detector from the back.
Discussion Questions
- For each graph, describe the motion of the skate in words.
- How far does the skate travel in each graph?
- What is the maximum force on the skate?
- Is the force on the skate similar to the forces incurred during real skating?
- From these two graphs, can you determine the mass of the skate?
- How much physical work is occurs during the movement of the skate?
- In which graph is the friction greater?
- Can the friction be calculated from these graphs?
- How accurate are these graphs? What is the margin of error, if any?
- Are these graphs relevant for real skaters? If so, how?
Additional free graphs are available in a free pamphlet from the publisher's webpage.
The following books from Schottenbauer Publishing contain similar types of graphs and data pertaining to the science of ice skating, figure skating, and hockey:
- The Science of Ice Skating, Vol. 1-8
- The Science of Hockey, Vol. 1-3
- The Science of Figure Skating
- The Science of Ice Hockey
- The Science of Winter Olympic Sports
In addition, the following books are suitable for younger children learning geometry:
- The Geometry of Figure Skating
- The Geometry of Winter Olympic Sports
