Each year, millions of people flock to ice-skating rinks, ponds, frozen over mud puddles, and home made ice puddles to partake in the most fascinating pastime of ice-skating. Although it may seem to be a fairly simple process (you stand on skates, push, glide) the physics behind this simple activity are quite staggering. Skating in a straight line can be summed up by addressing three main points

1) Newton's Laws and their applicability to ice skating

2) The qualities if ice that make it work for skating

3)The effect of friction on the skates