Mathematical Teaching III 20034 The Science of Skateboarding

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Mathematical Teaching III2003/4The Science of
Skateboarding

• An Evolution of the Mechanics Involved in
  Skateboarding
• Jack Edwards-Fox
• Grey College

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Why Skateboarding?

• Interesting Topic!!
• Can be investigated with school-level mechanics
• More advanced Mathematics can be applied

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Project Contents

• A childs idea of Mechanics
• Basic Projectiles Equations of Motion
• The Introduction of External Forces Friction
  and Pushing
• Spins

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What Does a Child Know?

• Throw a ball up, it comes back down
• You cant fly!!
• You speed up skating down a hill
• The faster you go, the further you jump

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The Equations of Motion

• d?u/dt?g
• du/dtgtv vstarting speed
• u½gt?vtc cstarting position
• Equations at an angle uacos?bsin?

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Friction and Pushing

• You cant skate forever!!
• The effect of friction on movement
• Pushing helps you go faster!!
• Acceleration due to forces other than gravity

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Spins

• Two things affect Spins
• Inertia
• Momentum