Welcome to My Blog!

Welcome to my blog!This is my blog about my science fair project, Pointe Shoe Physics. I am testing the amount of force per square centimeter on a ballet dancer's feet while dancing in pointe shoes. I am also studying how this changes in three different positions. Be sure to check out my report, background information, videos and other cool stuff! My final report and other files can be accessed through the "Documents" link on the right. Enjoy!

Application

      Dancers are known to "dance through their pain". Because of this, many minor injuries quickly become worse. This information could be used by orthopedic specialists when treating ballet dancers in order to know how much force was repeatedly put on a certain area of the foot.
      Another possible application of this study could be to companies who currently make pointe shoes. Traditional pointe shoes have shanks (pieces of hard material that support the arch) made of materials such as leather, cardboard, and burlap. As the shoes are worn, they become softer. When they become too soft, the shoes do not properly support the dancer and may cause injuries. This can take anywhere from six months to one performance, depending on the material of the shoe and frequency of use.
     Pointe shoes, which are each handmade, range in price from fifty to one hundred dollars a pair. If the shank were made with a more durable material, they would last longer. Materials scientists could use the information found in this study to find or create a material that would be durable enough to last yet pliable and flexible enough for pointe work.

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