One of the most interesting things about skateboarding, is the fact that someone can take a trick that was previously thought to be impossible and make it possible. Looking at the physics in skateboarding, we can start to see the fine line between what is possible and impossible and how some tricks may perhaps defy the impossible. The physics involved are not only important, but necessary for one to be able to land any skateboard trick successfully.
Basic Force’s
The biggest force impacting the skateboarder is gravity. Tricks like the Hippie Jump, helps illustrate the bigger picture. A Hippie Jump is when the rider jumps off of his board and controls the board, that is still on the ground, to roll directly in front of him. He or she then proceeds to land directly back on the board and roll away. In this trick, we can see how the rider achieves projectile motion, or gravity and air forces resisting against an object. The board and the rider will continue to go straight and eventually meet back at the same point that is represented by a curved path. Without understanding the physics of this trick, the rider won’t be able to balance and position themselves just right to be able to land back on the board and roll away.
Ollie/Flip Tricks
When looking at tricks like the Ollie, which involves the rider popping his board up off of the ground, we can examine which forces are being presented to get the board off the ground. When watching an Ollie done correctly, we see that a force is being applied with the back foot to try and get the necessary amount of force to get the board off the ground. The next thing to consider is the front foot, which is placed ¾ of the way up the board, and goes up and out to be how you would normally stand on a board. Timing is huge, but if you can time these movements right, you will be in the air with the board completely horizontal because both of those forces used by each foot will work to project you evenly above the ground. Flip tricks work under a similar process except the front foot will leave the board and proper movement is needed to be made by the rider to position themselves back underneath the board. This level of timing and balance is difficult, and not everybody has the coordination to be able to use the physics involved.
Physics are everywhere in skateboarding, from the physics of just riding a skateboard, to being able to perform tricks consistently. The biggest force applied is gravity with foot positioning and movements are key to being able to land and finish the tricks.
Here’s a video that originally sparked my interest on the topic:
Works Cited:
“Physics Of Skateboarding.” Real World Physics Problems, Real World Physics Problems, https://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/physics-of-skateboarding.html.
“Skateboarding Tricks: The Ollie.” Exploratorium, http://www.exploratorium.edu/skateboarding/trick02.html.
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