Praxis: Investigating how snowshoes work
By Medicine Hat News on February 25, 2019.
As I write this column, I am listening to the weather report, and there is promise that we are in for a rather seasonal weekend. With the great snow we have had the past week or so, it is making for fabulous conditions to get outside and enjoy some winter sports! This had me thinking about sports we have not discussed here. I don’t think we have investigated just how snowshoes work! I speak from experience when I say that sinking into the deep snow when you are walking is not only difficult, but it can be thoroughly exhausting. Let’s investigate how these wonders work! *Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment. Materials – clear bowl – flour – large toy animal – scissors – cardboard – tape Procedure Fill the clear bowl about half full of flour. Place the toy animal into the flour. Push down fairly hard and then lift up. Observe. Make some “snowshoes” for your toy animal. Cut four circles out of the cardboard and tape onto the feet of the animal. Place the animal back in the flour. Push down again. Observe. What is going on? The first time you pushed down on the animal in the bowl of flour, you should have observed the footprints in the “snow.” Once you place the snowshoes on your animal and place it back in the “snow” and push down you should not see a footprint, or if you do, it should be much lighter. The animal should not have sunk deep into the “snow” when it had its “snowshoes” on. Why is this? Well, first of all, did you know that snow is very fragile? It is made up of tiny water crystals that cannot hold much weight. This is why when you step onto the snow; you sink right down into it. Simply put, if you put all of your weight in a concentrated small area (like the size of your foot), the snow is not strong enough to hold you up. Most snowshoes you can purchase in the store are flat and wide. This shape helps you spread your weight over a larger area. This means that there is more snow supporting your body weight, so you do not sink as far into it. Experts tell me this is called “flotation.” Literally speaking, snowshoes help you to float over snow! Head down to Police Point Park if you do not have your own snowshoes they have a great variety to rent at an affordable price for the entire family to enjoy for an afternoon! Patty Rooks is senior scientific consultant at PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community.” Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. 26-25
