Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will understand the basic principles of physics related to skateboarding and be able to apply them to improve your skateboarding skills.

Materials and Prep

• Skateboard
• Helmet and protective gear (if available)
• Smooth and flat surface for skateboarding
• Pen and paper for notes

No prior knowledge is required for this lesson.

Activities

1. Activity 1: Balance and Center of Gravity

   Stand on your skateboard and try to find your balance. Experiment with shifting your weight forward, backward, and sideways. Observe how your center of gravity affects your stability on the board.

2. Activity 2: Newton's Laws of Motion

   Push yourself off and try to maintain a constant speed on your skateboard. Observe how your body's inertia and the force of friction affect your motion. Experiment with different forces to understand how they impact your speed and direction.

3. Activity 3: Energy and Momentum

   Find a slight incline or use a ramp to gain momentum. Observe how potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as you go downhill. Measure and record the distance traveled and the speed reached at the bottom of the incline.

4. Activity 4: Forces and Tricks

   Choose a skateboarding trick you want to learn or improve. Analyze the different forces involved in performing the trick, such as gravity, friction, and applied force. Experiment with adjusting these forces to achieve the desired outcome.

United Kingdom: Year 7 Talking Points

• "Physics is the branch of science that studies how objects move and interact with each other."
• "Skateboarding involves various physics principles, such as balance, motion, energy, and forces."
• "Understanding physics can help us improve our skateboarding skills and perform tricks more effectively."
• "Center of gravity is the point where an object's weight is evenly distributed. It affects our stability on the skateboard."
• "Newton's Laws of Motion explain how objects move. They help us understand the forces acting on a skateboard and our body while skateboarding."
• "Energy is the ability to do work. When we go downhill on a skateboard, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which makes us move faster."
• "Forces like gravity, friction, and applied force play a crucial role in performing skateboarding tricks."