pretend that is not friction at all between a pair of ice rink. If a hockey player using this special pair of ice skates was gliding along on the ice at constant speed and direction, what would be required for him to stop?

For the most part, the physics behind ice skating comes down to analyzing the movement of skates over the ice. The skates do two things: They glide over the ice and they push off the ice with the edge, which causes a gain in speed. With practice, this combination of movements can become as effortless as walking.

Another part of the physics is the low friction of the skate blade with the ice. This low friction allows a skater to easily glide over the ice surface, and in addition, the physical properties of the ice allows a skater to dig in with his skate in order to go around a turn, speed up, or stop.