AboutDr. Bruce Forciea Expertise I can handle most questions regarding sports injuries, conditioning, jumps, spins, and basic skating.
Experience Professional skating coach for 15 years. Former PSA Senior rated coach and ice show performer. Now a chiropractor and full-time college instructor in anatomy and physiology.
Organizations Human Anatomy and Physiology Society
Wisconsin Chiropractic Association
Publications Wisconsin Technical College System course in General and Advanced anatomy and physiology.
Author of Unlocking the Healing Code, a book on healing scheduled for release in December, 2007.
Education/Credentials Doctor of Chiropractic from Parker College.
B.A. Psychology Eckerd College
Awards and Honors Midwestern Novice and Junior Pairs Champion and National competitor.
Question Hi,
I am doing a science fair project on " what makes it possible for a skater to get "X" amount of revolutions in a spin?" I am testing this on my scratch spin, because I have most experience with it. If you have some things that help you get more speed and revolutions in any of your spins, I would like to know them. If you could e-mail me back with results or suggestions, that would be great. Thanks! Brittani Walton
Answer Hi Brittani:
What you are investigating is known as conservation of angular momentum. Angular momentum is the product of angular velocity and the moment of intertia. Varying spin postitions can all have the same angular momentum but the rotational speed of the spin can vary depending on the moment of inertia. Moment of inertial can vary due to different body positions. What this means is that you can increase the rotational speed of your spin by using various arm and leg positions. As you probably know if you begin spinning with your arms and free leg out and then pull them in you will spin faster. However I sense that you are looking for how to increase the speed of rotation even more than just pulling in your arms and free leg.
One thing to think about is friction. In other words the more you "scratch" in the scratch spin the more you will slow down. There is a constant action of friction throughout the spin. So you could reduce friction by attempting to scratch as lightly as possible. Keepin your body rigid also helps to increase rotation speed. Pulling in your arms at a slow constant rate also helps as you are dealing with the constant friction. Lastly, if you really want to spin fast you can enter the spin with a couple of light hand weights. You will notice a big difference when pulling in.
Here is a really nice site that helps to explain this:
