The Science Behind Ice Skating | I Didn’t Know That

have you ever wondered how ice skates

have you ever wondered how ice skates run something to do with the ice being

run something to do with the ice being

run something to do with the ice being slippery well surprisingly it’s not as

slippery well surprisingly it’s not as

slippery well surprisingly it’s not as simple as you might think and the exact

simple as you might think and the exact

simple as you might think and the exact mechanism behind how ice skates actually

mechanism behind how ice skates actually

mechanism behind how ice skates actually work has been hotly disputed for years

work has been hotly disputed for years

work has been hotly disputed for years one theory is the heat generated by the

one theory is the heat generated by the

one theory is the heat generated by the friction of the skates moving on the ice

friction of the skates moving on the ice

friction of the skates moving on the ice produces a slippery film of water

produces a slippery film of water

produces a slippery film of water between the metal blades in the ice this

between the metal blades in the ice this

between the metal blades in the ice this sounds logical but it doesn’t explain

sounds logical but it doesn’t explain

sounds logical but it doesn’t explain why skates are still slippery even at a

why skates are still slippery even at a

why skates are still slippery even at a standstill another theory is it’s the

standstill another theory is it’s the

standstill another theory is it’s the pressure of the skaters weight applied

pressure of the skaters weight applied

pressure of the skaters weight applied through the narrow metal blades that

through the narrow metal blades that

through the narrow metal blades that reduces the melting point of the ice and

reduces the melting point of the ice and

reduces the melting point of the ice and again produces a slippery film to ride

again produces a slippery film to ride

again produces a slippery film to ride on and it’s true pressure can reduce the

on and it’s true pressure can reduce the

on and it’s true pressure can reduce the melting point of ice as this experiment

melting point of ice as this experiment

melting point of ice as this experiment will demonstrate so we’ve got a block of

will demonstrate so we’ve got a block of

will demonstrate so we’ve got a block of ice around which we’re going to place

ice around which we’re going to place

ice around which we’re going to place this cheese wire which is attached to

this cheese wire which is attached to

this cheese wire which is attached to some weights now watch this now just

some weights now watch this now just

some weights now watch this now just like the ice skates the ice under the

like the ice skates the ice under the

like the ice skates the ice under the wire is put under tremendous pressure

wire is put under tremendous pressure

wire is put under tremendous pressure and this reduces the melting point of

and this reduces the melting point of

and this reduces the melting point of the ice

the ice

the ice it’s already starting to cut in there is

it’s already starting to cut in there is

it’s already starting to cut in there is amazing

as the wire passes through the ice above

as the wire passes through the ice above it refreezes as the pressure’s released

it refreezes as the pressure’s released

it refreezes as the pressure’s released it’s incredible that is so cool and

it’s incredible that is so cool and

it’s incredible that is so cool and after a few more minutes the wire was

after a few more minutes the wire was

after a few more minutes the wire was ready to drop oh it’s working hey now

ready to drop oh it’s working hey now

ready to drop oh it’s working hey now look Johnny one solid block of ice and

look Johnny one solid block of ice and

look Johnny one solid block of ice and can you see that can you see that

can you see that can you see that

can you see that can you see that frosted well it’s cut free going through

frosted well it’s cut free going through

frosted well it’s cut free going through it is excellent and that is still very

it is excellent and that is still very

it is excellent and that is still very very can’t break it can’t okay

very can’t break it can’t okay

very can’t break it can’t okay solid unfortunately this pressure theory

solid unfortunately this pressure theory

solid unfortunately this pressure theory doesn’t provide the whole answer either

doesn’t provide the whole answer either

doesn’t provide the whole answer either a typical skater only produces enough

a typical skater only produces enough

a typical skater only produces enough pressure to reduce the ice melting point

pressure to reduce the ice melting point

pressure to reduce the ice melting point by a few degrees

by a few degrees

by a few degrees which would make skating at anything

which would make skating at anything

which would make skating at anything more than just below zero a bit tricky

more than just below zero a bit tricky

more than just below zero a bit tricky so what’s the answer

so what’s the answer

so what’s the answer well the latest scientific thinking is

well the latest scientific thinking is

well the latest scientific thinking is that it’s a combination of the pressure

that it’s a combination of the pressure

that it’s a combination of the pressure theory and the friction theory along

theory and the friction theory along

theory and the friction theory along with the fact that the bonds that bind

with the fact that the bonds that bind

with the fact that the bonds that bind the ice molecules together a weaker near

the ice molecules together a weaker near

the ice molecules together a weaker near the surface so I mean after all that ice

the surface so I mean after all that ice

the surface so I mean after all that ice is naturally slippery um well yeah

is naturally slippery um well yeah

is naturally slippery um well yeah technically speaking