MYTHCONCEPTIONS

260: ICE SKATING

Mat Coward

The myth Ice skating is possible because the pressure exerted by the blade of the skate melts the ice it comes in contact with, thus forming a temporary liquid layer on top of the ice. This lubrication allows the skate to slide. The “truth” This idea has been prevalent since the 1880s, and you’ll still find it in textbooks today. However, it’s been known for a long time that it can’t be a complete answer: experimentation has proved that skates do not produce enough pressure to cause melting. Another version has friction, rather than pressure, melting the ice. But ice is always slippery; most of us at some time or another have had the unpleasant experience of going arse over tit on an icy pavement, no matter how sensible our…

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Fortean Times (Digital) - 1 Issue, 423

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