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Why is ice so slippery?
That is a great question! Ice is extremely slippery because of friction. Friction is a type of force that resists sliding - this is why a rough surface has more friction than a smooth surface. A sidewalk or road will have lots of tiny bumps on it, which “grabs” the bottom of your shoe and keeps you from slipping, meaning it has more friction. Ice, on the other hand, is smooth and has a thin layer of water on top. These qualities prevent it from “grabbing” your shoe the same way and makes it more slippery due to less friction. Animals who live on polar ice have different adaptations to be able to handle constantly walking, running, or hunting on such a slick surface. Have you ever noticed how penguins waddle? Arctic penguins, like the emperor penguin, have a specific way of walking to keep themselves from slipping. Their feet are pointed out and they shuffle to increase their center of gravity, and their wings stick out at the sides to keep them balanced. Polar bears, on the other hand, have a particular feature on their bodies to help. They have papillae, or tiny bumps, on the bottom of their thick feet. This increases friction to keep them from slipping. The papillae act like the bumps that increase friction on a concrete road. How can you mimic these adaptations to keep yourself from slipping on ice? You can waddle like a penguin or attach traction devices, like microspikes, to the bottom of your shoe just like a polar bear! Enjoy exploring this fun topic with your curious little learner and head over to www.KazoomKids.com today to find additional science topics and fun activities in our Science Zone!
