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The working principle of ice skates can be understood from two aspects: reducing friction and increasing pedaling power.
First of all, the reason why ice skates can reduce friction is that when their sharp ice blades come into contact with the ice surface, they only have a small contact area, which generates a lot of pressure. According to the principles of physics, when the pressure increases, the melting point of ice will decrease accordingly. Therefore, when a sharp ice blade exerts pressure on the ice surface, the ice in the contact part will melt slightly, forming a very thin film of water. This water film acts like a lubricant and can greatly reduce the friction between the skate blade and the ice surface.
Secondly, ice skates can also help improve the strength of stepping on the ice. Since the contact area between the skates and the ice is very small, the pressure is correspondingly very large, which makes it easier for the person wearing the skates to control the sliding direction and force generation. This design allows athletes to be more flexible when turning or sliding arcs, thereby improving speed and maneuverability during competition.
Additionally, ice skate design involves careful selection of materials. Generally speaking, the skate blade part is made of carbon steel that is both tough and hard to ensure smoothness and safety when skating. It’s worth noting that despite the name, an “ice blade” is not a true knife, but is designed specifically for sports. It has a very thin base designed to reduce the contact area with the ice.
