How does ice-skating work?

 

Ice-skating is a popular winter sport that is believed to date back thousands of years, when early types of ice-skates were made using the bones of animals instead of metal blades! 

The reason ice-skating works is thanks to the unique characteristics of water and ice. If you’ve ever tried to walk on a non-ice surface wearing skates, then you already know that other hard, smooth surfaces (like wood or cement) do not allow you to glide like you can when you’re on ice. The slippery surface of ice is one of the special properties of this cool solid, and it makes ice-skating possible! While scientists aren’t sure of exactly what makes the surface of ice so slippery, most believe is either has to do with heat created from the friction of your skates, or the way that the units of water making up the outermost layer of ice don’t stay as fully frozen as those below them.

Today, ice-skating is a recreational activity for many people, as well as the cornerstone of two different sports: figure skating and ice hockey!

Professional ice-skaters have to work hard, stay in shape, and practice a lot in order to participate in a sport that requires them to wear ice-skates! 

What are some of the qualities that you think would help someone to be a good ice-skater? Physical fitness? Balance? Confidence? Practice??

How are the qualities needed for ice-skating similar or different to the qualities a person might need to have to pursue a different sport?