Skates in Action The previous web pages mentioned the physics advantages and drawbacks of different types of skates that have been used through history; now let's look at some more specific examples of how physics plays a roll in the basic use of the skates. The very basics of the physics involved in ice skating involves what has already been mentioned in earlier sections, the problem of initiating or changing direction of motion with little to no friction. Normani explains it well. The lack of friction on ice is largely due to a thin layer of meltwater on top of ice. The sharp blades of ice skates allow the skater to apply force to the ice and move themselves forward. Skaters push backward with one skate while either raising the other skate or allowing it to glide along the ice. As they push backward, the skate slides forward parallel to the blade and the resulting force is perpendicular to the blade. Skaters will, often subconsciously, change the angle of the skate they are pushing off the ice with to make subtle changes in speed.         https://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/physics-of-hockey.html There are several ways for skaters to turn, but probably the most simple involves this same concept of force perpendicular to the skate blade. If a skater wants to turn to the left, he or she can simply extend the amount of time they apply force to their right skate. The skate will continue to glide along the ice parallel to the blade because of Newton’s first law. The force acting perpendicular to the blade will cause the skater to turn to the left. Skaters can also turn using this same concept by tilting their bodies and applying force to the inside of one blade and the outside of another. This allows for tighter turns because more force can be applied. For example, if a skater wants to turn to the right, they can apply pressure to the inside edge of their left blade then lean to the right and apply a force on the ice with the outside edge of their right blade. They can continue leaning to the right and alternating blades until they have turned as far as they would like to turn. This method allows for sharper turns because the skater can apply more force when using both legs and can tighten the angle of their turn with each step. https://www.hockeyshot.com/blogs/training-academy/hockey-skills-tight-turn-tips-for-hockey-players There is a lot more physics that goes into skating. Figure skaters and hockey players will have different concerns when it comes to skating. Everyday people will be less concerned with speed and precision and more concerned with ease of execution. This has been a very brief overview of some of the main points of the physics involved in the basic design of ice skates and the basics of ice skating.