A lack of friction enables ice skaters to perform

Figure skaters appear to glide effortlessly
across the ice, performing breath-taking moves
and spins, often at unimaginable speeds. At their
core, these impressive performances rely on simple
scientifi c principles, including friction, momentum
and Newton’s third law – every action has an equal
and opposite reaction.
It’s actually a lack of friction and the physical
properties of the ice that enable a skater to glide,
turn, speed up and stay in motion during a
routine. Friction is a resisting force that occurs
when two objects slide against one another,
dissipating their energy of motion. A fi gure
skater performing on smooth ice with sharpened
skates will therefore encounter very little resistance.
Some friction is still required for skating, though, as it
enables skaters to start a stroke and come to a
complete stop.
Newton’s third law helps to explain how a fi gure
skater is able to move and execute jumps on the ice. To
put it simply, a skater will apply force down onto the
surface of the ice; the ice then generates an upward
force, which pushes back and helps to propel the
skater into the air.
Figure skating routines that feature dramatic spins
also rely on angular momentum. The amount of
momentum depends on the skater’s weight, speed
and the distribution of mass from the centre of the
body. Because of this, skaters will often tuck their
arms in during a spin to reduce their radius, which
in turn enables them to pick up more speed as
they spin.