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I just found out that an outdoor skating rink within walking distance of my school will allow my classes free admission and skate rentals on weekday afternoons. Has anyone ever done physics labs or demos at an ice rink? We've covered motion, forces, and work/energy so far, and any of those topics would be reasonable to revisit in January as we review for the midterm exam. I can think of lots of possibilities but I'd love to hear ideas from you all!

What absolute fun, Marna. Think conservation of momentum and circular motion, too. Using the skating rink might be a great opportunity to engage the students in designing their own inquiry- they could use video analysis (there is a relatively inexpensive app from the Apple store on Video Analysis developed by Vernier.) The students could also use string and measuring devices along with stop watches for gathering data in a low tech way and if they are fortunate to have sensors and digital devices that may be used out in the field, encourage them to take their motion detectors, force sensors,accelerometers etc to the rink along with them. They might even use their phones, iPads or other devices. In a way, you and your students can create ice skating physics as many teachers have created amusement park physics or play-ground physics. I applaud your initiative and encourage you and the students to gather and analyze data while having fun. mechanics and conservation of energy and momentum will be remembered in new and enervating ways for them. ~patty

some web sites for ideas 1. figure skater spins - the physics of everyday stuff http://www.bsharp.org/physics/spins 2. the science of jumping and rotating - http://btc.montana.edu/olympics/physbio/biomechanics/bio-intro.html 3. the physics of ice skating - real word problems http://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/physics-of-ice-skating.html 4. the physics of ice skating - with lots of reference sites http://www.janerigby.net/JRR/skating/main.html and there are many other sites for your reference and for background material

You can also talk about heating (and melting) due to friction. Matt

I like the ideas presented so far which have largely focussed on ice skating. However, I also suggest that you might consider curling as a possible alternative. The advantage of this is that everyone (non-skaters included) can participate and different teams can compete as well. So this could become a fun integrated activity about learning how to curl and the physics surrounding the sport. Of course if you can get actual curling stones and brooms that would be ideal but it also may be possible to use other materials such as small plastic cones and regular brooms. Obviously, it would be ideal to have real stones but it might also make things a bit too difficult for the students. Therefore, modifying the game using the alternative materials and a shortened rink might allow for more competitive games. It should also still be possible for students to measure angles, distances and time to enable creation of vector diagrams. Anyway, here is a link on the Physics of Curling (http://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/physics-of-curling.html)and if you check out YouTube, there are many clips that could be shown to students including An Introduction to Curling (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unwOqsfFAL8). Whatever, you end up doing, I am sure the students will enjoy the activity and learn a lot as well!

Lots of great ideas and links - thanks everyone! I have shown video clips of curling already and used it to talk about inertia and Newton's Laws. Great stuff. Makeshift curling materials are an interesting idea for sure. I will have to call up the public rink and see what they will let us do on the ice!

There are also some great articles and videos on speed skating and wow, can you tie in center of mass and balance on this one as well as the nature of the blades on the skates. Great stuff, everyone. Thanks for sharing! Using curling for conservation of momentum and inertia sounds terrific! Marna, thanks for getting this thread started. Good job.