Lessons on Friction & Collisions

Friction and collisions are concepts relevant to both ice hockey and figure skating. Consider the graph below, excerpted from a book by Schottenbauer Publishing:

Discussion Questions

1. How is air hockey similar to ice hockey? How is it different?
2. How is air hockey similar to ice skating? How is it different?
3. What happens when a hockey puck collides with a stick? 
4. How are the phenomena in this graph similar to collisions between an ice hockey puck and stick? How are they different?
5. What is the role of friction in ice skating? What does friction do to the motion of a hockey puck or a skater? 
6. How does this graph demonstrate friction?
7. How are the phenomena in this graph similar to friction experienced by an ice hockey puck? How are they different?
8. How are the phenomena in this graph similar to friction experienced by an ice skater? How are they different?

Additional sample graphs are available in a free pamphlet from the publisher's webpage.

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Science of Ice Skating Memorabilia

Celebrate the sport science of ice skating with memorabilia from Zazzle! Colorful graphs from Schottenbauer Publishing are featured on these mugs, magnets, keychains, & postcards. Direct links to each collection are included below:

     

A variety of other sport science collections are also available from Schottenbauer Publishing on Zazzle, which features regular sales on most items.  


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The Geometry of Ice Skating

Geometry is essential for ice skating. Take a moment to write down a few ways in which geometry affects the precision of the sport. 

Discussion Questions

1. What data is necessary to collect in order to understand the role of geometry in figure skating, hockey, and speed skating? 
2. What spatial perspectives and/or mathematical planes are important for precision? 

The cover of The Geometry of Figure Skating, to the right above, features a skater in action. 

Discussion Questions

1. What angles can be measured on the diagram, in order to understand the accuracy of technique?  
2. Is any essential information missing from the picture? What is necessary in order to measure that information?

Geometry diagrams featuring ice skating are available in the following books from Schottenbauer Publishing:

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Figure Skating
• The Geometry of Winter Olympic Sports

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Comparing Ice Skating Equipment in the Lab

What types of measurements are ideal for understanding ice skating? Take a moment to write down a list of at least four types of data to collect and compare. What types of equipment are necessary to measure each type? What physics concepts are relevant?

Many types of interesting data are available for comparison in the book The Science of Ice Skating: Volume 1 (Extended Edition) from Schottenbauer Publishing. Data include position, velocity, acceleration, and force for the following equipment:

• Surface Types
• Ice
• Synthetic Ice
• Wet
• Dry
• Skate Types
• Bob Skates
• Child Double-Runner Skates
• Hockey Skates
• Youth
• Adult
• Figure Skates
• 2 Sizes
• 2 Types of Blades
• Blade Preparation
• Sharpened
• Unsharpened
• Skate Mass
• None
• Added 2.5 pounds of weight

Additional types of data include:

• Hockey Puck Motion
• Vertical Motions (Force)
• Stepping
• Jumping
• Skate Support for Ankles (Force)
• Ice Melting (Temperature)

Free sample graphs are available in a free pamphlet from the publisher's webpage.

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Video Analysis of "Cool Skating Move"

As with any sport, ice skating can be analysed in graphs. Consider the following graph below, excerpted from the upcoming Volume 9 of Glide, Spin, & Jump! The Science of Ice Skating by Schottenbauer Publishing. 

Discussion Questions

1. What body parts are moving in this example?
2. Which body part moves the most in the x direction? In the y direction?
3. What is the name of this move?

Now, consider the following pictures, excerpted from the video. (This move is shown in the YouTube Video Cool Skating Move.) 

Discussion Questions

1. Is this move in the first or second half of the graph?
2. What is the primary motion which occurs between these two pictures?
3. What concept(s) from physics are relevant for this move?
4. Is this move found in (a) figure skating, (b) ice hockey, or (c) both?

The diagram below highlights the move on the graph.

Discussion Questions

1. Which body part moves the most during this segment of the graph?
2. Which body part moves the most in the x direction? In the y direction?

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:

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Ice Skating 
• Volume 1: Translational Motion
• Volume 2: Rotational Motion (Curves)
• Volume 3: Rotational Motion (Spins)
• Volume 4: Jumps
• Volume 5: Ice Hockey
• Volume 6: Biophysics
• Volume 7: Video Analysis
• Volume 8: Reference Manual
• The Science of Hockey
• Volume 1: Force, Acceleration, & Video Analysis of Pucks & Balls
• Volume 2: Force & Acceleration of Sticks, plus Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis of Ice, Field, & Street Hockey Sticks

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Figure Skating
• The Science of Ice Hockey
• The Science of Winter Olympic Sports

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Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources

Affordable Synthetic Ice for Home Practice

The location and cost of ice rinks is often a limiting factor for families interested in recreational skating. Fortunately, several low-cost options are available for both ice hockey and figure skaters.

Shooting Boards
Starting at less than $100, it is possible to purchase various types of hockey shooting pads. These are plastic boards which can be used for practicing puck handling techniques, but not skating. These boards, approximately 2 to 4 feet wide and 4 to 8 feet long, are available from a variety of manufacturers and stores.

HDPE, US Plastic Corporation
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is an affordable plastic which can be purchased directly from a manufacturing company, starting at only $2 to $3 per square foot. As a low-glide surface, it is suitable for ice hockey practice and some basic figure skating. A demonstration video available on YouTube shows the use of two HDPE sheets, each 4 x 8 feet and 3/16 inches thick, from US Plastics Corporation. In February 2014, these two sheets cost only $140, plus a $140 freight shipping charge! Placed side by side, these two sheets make a rink 8 feet by 8 feet.

UHDPE, Direct Import from China
The next best surface is Ultra-High Density Polyethylene (UHDPE), which is commonly used at commercial synthetic ice rinks. These are available from various companies in the USA and abroad, but the best value can be imported direct from China. According to a February 2015 estimate, an Olympic-sized synthetic ice rink (100 ft x 200 ft UHDPE) with sideboards is available for only $22,000, including shipping to East Coast USA! (Import tax and transportation from seaport were not included in this estimate.)

Recycled Plastic, Budget Ice from Canada
One of the lowest-cost synthetic rinks in North America is a recycled plastic surface available from Canada. A small sample is available for only $208 plus tax and shipping, according to an estimate in October 2015.

Sinter-Pressed, SmartRink from Canada
One of the highest-quality synthetic ice consists of sinter-pressed materials, which are reported not to flake or scratch like other brands. This surface is available from Canada, as well as some US warehouse locations.

Buildings
Ice rinks can range from a recreation-room or basement model  (e.g., 8' x 8') to a full Olympic sized rink. Although outdoor rinks offer a lower cost and the ambiance of outdoors, indoor rinks have many additional benefits. For instance, indoor rinks allow for more flexibility of use, such as skating at night and during bad weather, as well as protection from leaves and organic matter. Some of the most common buildings used for ice rinks include tension fabric structures, steel structures, and pole barns. These options are available at ultra low-cost from China, with prices as low as $3 per square foot, compared to US models from $9 per square foot or more! Some companies also offer free installation options.


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Sliding on Ice: The Case of Two Hockey Pucks

The concept of friction is essential to all skating on ice, whether it is for hockey, speed, or figure skating. Ice provides a reduced-friction surface, which allows humans to glide, rather than stick to the floor. Synthetic ice, consisting of slippery plastic, also reduces friction. The friction of synthetic ice can be lowered further by applying soapwater, or other slippery liquids.

For gliding motion to occur, two types of friction must be overcome: initial non-moving (static) friction, and moving (kinetic) friction.

The following graphs, excerpted from Volume 1 of The Science of Hockey, show the effect of force on motion of an official hockey puck.

Discussion Questions

1. Describe the magnitude of each force in Graph 1. For what amount of time is each force applied?
2. Describe the motion of the puck in Graph 2, using words.
3. How far does the puck travel? In what direction?
4. Are the graphs coordinated in the time dimension?

The following graphs, excerpted from Volume 1 of The Science of Hockey, compare the force required to move two types of pucks on synthetic ice (HDPE plastic).

Discussion Questions

1. Is the total force different in these two graphs? If so, why?
2. Is the initial force different in these two graphs? If so, why?
3. What is the average force is applied to each puck?
4. Calculate the work involved for each puck.
5. Why does the practice hockey puck perform differently on synthetic ice than an official puck? (Hint: The practice hockey puck is normally used on concrete floors.)

Additional free graphs on the science of ice skating 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:

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Ice Skating 
• Volume 1: Translational Motion
• Volume 2: Rotational Motion (Curves)
• Volume 3: Rotational Motion (Spins)
• Volume 4: Jumps
• Volume 5: Ice Hockey
• Volume 6: Biophysics
• Volume 7: Video Analysis
• Volume 8: Reference Manual
• The Science of Hockey
• Volume 1: Force, Acceleration, & Video Analysis of Pucks & Balls
• Volume 2: Force & Acceleration of Sticks, plus Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis of Ice, Field, & Street Hockey Sticks

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• 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:

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Figure Skating
• The Geometry of Winter Olympic Sports 

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources

The Science of Jumping

What happens when an ice skater jumps? The answer can be modeled in various levels of difficulty. One the simplest level, assume that the skater is simply a point mass object, without movement within the body. In this analysis, acceleration occurs in three planes, leading to changes in altitude and rotation. 

On the most complex level, the skater's body must be analysed as separate components moving in relation to the center of mass, which for most humans is approximately in the center of the abdomen or hips.

Discussion Questions

1. What everyday motions are related to skating? 
2. If skater motion were to be studied by making comparisons between graphs, which types of motions should be compared?

Volume 4 of Glide, Spin, & Jump: The Science of Ice Skating contains graphs of acceleration, force, and vertical distance in a series of motions completed by the author. 

Graphs of Motion

• Standing to Squatting Position
• Jumping with No Rotation
• Rotation with No Jumping
• Skating Jumps on Land
• Skating Jump on Synthetic Ice

Jumps on Land

• Half Jumps
• Stag
• Waltz
• Ballet 
• Mazurka
• Half Axel
• Single & Double Jumps
• Salchow
• Loop
• Toe Loop
• Flip
• Lutz
• Axel

The following two graphs are excerpted from Volume 4 of Glide, Spin, & Jump: The Science of Ice Skating. Notice that these jumps, completed in a purely vertical direction on land, are simpler to analyze, because they lack the horizontal translational motion across the ice. 

Discussion Questions

1. What are the major differences between these graphs?
2. In these graphs, how can direction be determined? What direction is up?
3. In each graph, what occurs in the vertical direction? 
4. In the lower graph, what is the pattern of acceleration in the horizontal plane during the rotations?
5. In each graph, what sort of tilt (side to side) occurs?
6. Is it better to locate the wireless device on the stomach or chest? Why?
7. Describe the role of knee motions during each of the above jumps, and their effects on acceleration.
8. What is the role of non-relevant movements (such as the motion of breathing) in these graphs, if any?
9. What is the role of error or random motion in these graphs, if any? 
10. Are these clean (technically correct) jumps? If not, what would the acceleration pattern be during a clean jump?
11. What would a fall look like in a graph of acceleration?
12. What would the graphs look like if the jumps were completed on the ice?

Additional free graphs of ice skating are available in a free pamphlet from the publisher's webpage. A humorous cartoon animation of an ice skater, showing approximate force vectors, is available from the publisher's YouTube channel.

The following books from Schottenbauer Publishing contain similar types of graphs and data pertaining to the science of ice skating, figure skating, and hockey:

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Ice Skating 
• Volume 1: Translational Motion
• Volume 2: Rotational Motion (Curves)
• Volume 3: Rotational Motion (Spins)
• Volume 4: Jumps
• Volume 5: Ice Hockey
• Volume 6: Biophysics
• Volume 7: Video Analysis
• Volume 8: Reference Manual
• The Science of Hockey
• Volume 1: Force, Acceleration, & Video Analysis of Pucks & Balls
• Volume 2: Force & Acceleration of Sticks, plus Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis of Ice, Field, & Street Hockey Sticks

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• 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:

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Figure Skating
• The Geometry of Winter Olympic Sports 

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources

How Does Geometry Affect Ice Skating?

On the surface level, both the technique and beauty of ice skating can be described by geometry, in terms of the angles of knee bends and arm positions. On a technical level, geometry is essential for understanding the science of ice skating, including the physics of force and motion.

The books The Geometry of Winter Olympic Sports and The Geometry of Figure Skating contain diagrams which introduce children and teens to the task of identifying angles in ice skating. Consider the diagram below, excerpted from page 25 of The Geometry of Winter Olympic Sports (Copyright 2014, All Rights Reserved).

Discussion Questions

1. How many angles are formed in this diagram?
2. From a casual analysis, what types of angles (Acute/Obtuse/Right) are located in the diagram? Indicate the location of each angle.
3. In order to analyze the angles in this diagram, where should the coordinate axis be placed? Why? Is it necessary to identify more than one coordinate axis? Why or why not? If so, where should the axes be placed?
4. Using a protractor, measure all the angles in the diagram that are relevant to the art or physics of skating.
5. Is it possible to identify the direction of motion from this diagram? Why or why not?
6. Is this a figure skater or a hockey player? Justify your answer.

Assistance answering some of these questions may be found by watching the video How to Use Geometry Workbooks on the publisher's YouTube channel.

The following books from Schottenbauer Publishing contain geometry diagrams relevant to ice skating, figure skating, and hockey. 

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Figure Skating
• The Geometry of Winter Olympic Sports 

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources

Skater in Motion: x-y Plots of Movement

In elementary school, math students learn the graph-reading skills. How often do these same students enjoy applying math to real-life data? In books from Schottenbauer Publishing, students have the opportunity to decode graphs showing movement during popular sports.

The graph below (Copyright 2014, All Rights Reserved), excerpted from the book series Glide, Spin, & Jump: The Science of Ice Skating from Schottenbauer Publishing, shows an ice skater in forward motion.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the range of each variable in each graph? Include x, y, and t as variables in your analysis.
2. In this sample, which leg is used for pushing off? Which leg moves forward first? 
3. Use the information from the graph to draw the body in physical space, at a minimum of 4 time points.
4. Is the right knee ever in front of the right hip? Is the right ankle ever in front of the right knee or right hip? Describe the sequence of motion.
5. Is the left knee ever in front of the left hip? Is the left ankle ever in front of the left knee or left hip? Describe the sequence of motion.

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:

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Ice Skating 
• Volume 1: Translational Motion
• Volume 2: Rotational Motion (Curves)
• Volume 3: Rotational Motion (Spins)
• Volume 4: Jumps
• Volume 5: Ice Hockey
• Volume 6: Biophysics
• Volume 7: Video Analysis
• Volume 8: Reference Manual
• The Science of Hockey
• Volume 1: Force, Acceleration, & Video Analysis of Pucks & Balls
• Volume 2: Force & Acceleration of Sticks, plus Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis of Ice, Field, & Street Hockey Sticks

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• 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:

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Figure Skating
• The Geometry of Winter Olympic Sports 

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources

Pucks & Balls: The Physics of Motion

How does a ice hockey puck compare to a field hockey ball? This question is highly relevant for ice hockey players, who are eager to keep in shape over the warm summer months. According to physics, balls do not act like pucks. The graphs below (Copyright 2014, All Rights Reserved), excerpted from the book series The Science of Hockey from Schottenbauer Publishing, show an official field hockey ball and an official ice hockey puck in motion.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the range of each variable in each graph? Include x, y, and t as variables in your analysis.
2. Use the information from the graph to draw the trajectory of the ball and the puck on separate pieces of paper. Include beginning and ending time points in your drawing.
3. Using the information from Questions 1 and 2, compare the graphs. What is different about the motion of the ball and the puck?
4. Approximately how much energy from the ball is lost due to friction? 
5. Approximately how much energy from the puck is lost due to friction? 

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:

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Ice Skating 
• Volume 1: Translational Motion
• Volume 2: Rotational Motion (Curves)
• Volume 3: Rotational Motion (Spins)
• Volume 4: Jumps
• Volume 5: Ice Hockey
• Volume 6: Biophysics
• Volume 7: Video Analysis
• Volume 8: Reference Manual
• The Science of Hockey
• Volume 1: Force, Acceleration, & Video Analysis of Pucks & Balls
• Volume 2: Force & Acceleration of Sticks, plus Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis of Ice, Field, & Street Hockey Sticks

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Figure Skating
• The Science of Ice Hockey
• The Science of Winter Olympic Sports

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources