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The Physics of Skateboarding
By Colin G
Science Explained As a skateboard rolls along at a constant speed, three equal forces act on it, the weight of the rider, the force of gravity pushing down on the board, and the force of the ground pushing up. There is no net force acting on the board, so it rolls at a constant speed. Before performing the ollie, the skateboarder will crouch down to get a low center of mass, important to a high jump. To perform an Ollie, the skateboarder exerts a force on tail (back) of the board to popell it upwards by making it pivot on it's back wheel. At the same time, the skateboarder propels
Intro Have you ever wondered how a skateboarder launches himself into the air with his skateboard apparently attached to his feet? It looks as though the board is somehow tied to the skateboarder’s feet. However, there is a scientific explanation as to why an Ollie is possible
himself upwards by straightening his legs and throwing his arms upwards. When the tail strikes the ground, the ground exerts an upward force on the board, launching it into the air This force causes the board to begin to rotate forward. The skateboarder, while jumping in uses the friction of his front foot and the board to drag the board higher into the air. While dragging the board upwards with his front foot, the skateboarder lifts his back foot up to the level of his front foot, evening the board out in the air. The board and the skateboarder then succumb tothe force of gravity and fall to the ground together.
Bibliography "Skateboard Science: Frontside Forces and Fakie Flight: The Ollie." Exploratorium: the museum of science, art and human perception. 21 May 2009 . "Science Of Skateboarding -- Physicists Explain Tricky Skateboard Physics." Science Daily: News & Articles in Science, Health, Environment & Technology. 21 May 2009 .
