Wikijunior:How Things Work/Ice Skates
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Ice skates are boots with blades attached to the bottom. They are used in ice skating to propel oneself across ice surfaces.
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[edit] Who invented it?
The oldest pair of skates known date back to about 3000 B.C., found in a lake in Switzerland. The skates were made from the leg bone of a horse, holes were bored at each end of the bone and leather straps were used to tie the skates to the feet.
The Dutch began using wooden skates with iron runners in the 14th century. They used poles with these skates to push themselves forward. Later, they added a narrow metal blade that allow the skater to push off with his feet and still glide.
The steel ice skate was invented in 1867 by John Forbes, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
[edit] How does it get power?
Skates allow a person to move very quickly across the ice because there is very little friction between the blade of the skate and the ice. This lack of friction is partially due to the interaction of steel with ice and partially due to the very small surface area making contact with the ice. Friction from the metal rubbing against the ice causes it to melt. This is also the reason why when you are ice skating a track is formed, the track is because of the gap that has been made when the ice melts. The water formed may help lubricate and reduce friction along the blade.
[edit] How does it work?
Modern skating boots are usually rigid to support the foot and ankle. Traditionally, the boots are made of leather, but in recent years, boots made of synthetic materials have become more popular.
The blade on a modern ice skate is not shaped like a knife blade. The bottom of the blade has a crescent-shaped hollow, creating two sharp edges that contact the ice on each blade. The skater uses these edges in different combinations in order to maneuver.
Because the bottom of the blade is slightly curved, as the blade tilts to one side or the other, the edge which is in contact with the ice also curves. This causes the the skater to turn. If the skates tilt to the right, the skater turns right, if the skates tilt to the left, the skater turns left. The shoulders of the skater help very much in turning, too. If the skater tilts to the right, he goes right, if the skater tilts to the left, he goes to the left.
[edit] How dangerous is it?
As with all sports there are risks with skating. Ligaments can be torn just through skating too hard, bones can be broken through falling. A person can get a nasty cut if they are skated over by another person on the rink. The easiest way to prevent these things are to skate carefully and wear proper protective equipment.
[edit] What does it do?
It allows a person to move adeptly across a sheet of ice. A skater can glide quickly and stop and start quickly because of the design of the blade. A person can also turn in a controlled way when on the ice. A fast skater can go much faster than a fast runner. World record times for speed skating are about twice as fast as world record times for running the same distance.
[edit] How does it vary?
Figure skates are used in the sport of figure skating. They have toe picks on the front of the blade, which are used for jumping. Figure skating boots are typically made of several layers of leather and are very stiff to provide ankle support for jumps.
Hockey skates are used for playing the game of ice hockey. The boot is generally made of molded plastic, leather (often synthetic), and ballistic nylon.
Racing skates, also known as speed skates, have long blades and are used for speed skating. A clap skate (or clapper skate) is a type of skate where the shoe is connected to the blade using a hinge.
Touring skates (or Nordic skates) are long blades that can be attached to hiking or cross-country ski boots and are used for tour skating or long distance skating on natural ice.
[edit] How has it changed the world?
Because ice skates are a recreational item they didn't really change the world. They do provide some fun and entertainment, especially at Christmas time when it is traditional to go skating in some cultures. There are a number of sports that are played on ice skates including ice hockey, speed skating, and figure skating. These are some of the most popular sports in the winter Olympics.
[edit] What idea(s) and/or inventions had to be developed before it could be created?
Skates make use of one of the six simple machines, the inclined plane. Shoes were another important invention that were necessary to the invention of skates. In order to make skates with a metal blade people first had to have the ability to smelt (purify) and work metals like iron.
