The Physics of Skateboarding: Introductory Mechanics Through the Lens of Skateboarding

The Physics of Skateboarding (currently under development) is an introductory mechanics course that uses skateboarding as a recurring context for exploring classical physics. Covering Newton's laws, energy, momentum, torque, and rotational dynamics, the course integrates visual examples, demonstrations, and discussion-based analysis. Skateboarding serves as a consistent thread connecting the laws of physics to real motion: illustrating balance, impulse, and energy transfer in an accessible, engaging way. Students apply these principles by analyzing trick mechanics and producing their own "physics-based tutorials," translating equations and diagrams into explanatory narratives of motion. Designed to broaden participation in physics while maintaining analytical rigor, this course invites students to view mechanics as both a precise science and a creative language for understanding how we move through the world.