Physics and Figure Skating

Overview

Objectives/Goals Figure Skating and Physics My objective was to find out if one goes faster in an axle jump with their arms above their head or with their arms tucked into their chest and why the speed varies, if it does. Methods/Materials I had two skaters of the same International Skating Institute (ISI) skating level each perform several of each kind of axle. I video taped them and then timed all the jumps from takeoff to landing. They both had the same size toe picks and they both had Harlick skates. Results Skater 2 was generally faster than skater 1 and both skaters landed the jump with their arms tucked in faster than with their arms above their heads. Conclusions/Discussion My conclusion is that when a skater is rotating with their arms above their head, the arms are slightly farther away from their body and they rotate slower. This is because the average radius of the rotating body is slightly higher and there is nearly no friction in the jump. Therefore the angular momentum stays the same so speed varies inversely with the average radius of the spinning body.

Competition history

• CSEF 2014 Physics & Astronomy · Entry J1813

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