Olivia Jordan

Finding Physics in Motion

For a long time, physics felt like formulas in a textbook. Words like momentum and friction seemed distant from the rink. When I step onto the ice, I usually think about choreography, timing, and expression. I focus on landing cleanly, extending fully, and staying centered. But there are moments in skating that make me pause and wonder.

How does such a thin blade support balance and control on a surface that seems so slippery? Why does leaning slightly allow me to trace a clean arc instead of sliding outward? What must align for a jump to land perfectly? Why does one landing feel light and effortless while another feels heavy?

My coaches always tell me to build speed before taking off. I can feel the acceleration as I push against the ice. Somehow that forward motion transforms into height and rotation. When I pull my arms in, I spin faster. When I open them, I slow down. These are not random sensations. There must be structure beneath them.

While doing some self directed study in preparation for AP Physics, I began to realize that the laws of physics are quietly shaping every movement, even a simple glide across the ice. Momentum, energy, rotational motion, friction, they are already present. I just do not yet have the language to fully describe them.

What fascinates me most is that physics does not take away from the artistry of skating. It deepens it. The height of a jump, the sharpness of a turn, the smoothness of a spin all depend on invisible forces working together. Grace is supported by structure. Expression relies on balance and motion.

Next year, when I take AP Physics, I hope to return to the ice with new understanding. When we study momentum, will I see my crossovers differently? When we learn about rotational motion, will I fully understand why pulling my arms inward increases my spin? When we discuss energy, will I recognize it in the quiet bend of my knees before takeoff?

For now, I skate with curiosity. I may not yet know the complete explanations, but I know the questions are there, waiting. The ice has already introduced me to physics. Soon, I will have the language to describe what my body has been experiencing all along.