Paper Example on Surf Wax

Surf wax is a scientific discovery that has so far been used in the deck of surfboards to help in the skimming process. Before introducing surf wax, staying in balance while using surfboards was a complex activity, as it was characterized by several injuries and risks of slipping and gripping (“Waves of physics: The science of surfing,” 2017). Surf wax improves the grip and general friction of the surfboards, assisting surfers in staying attached to their boards throughout the skimming process (Transworld Surf, 2019). This essay aims at evaluating the history or origin of surf wax, how various forces interchange to affect the stability of the surf wax, and the comparison between different types of surf wax. Therefore, surf wax is the dependent variable, while all these objectives are independent variables used to explain how the surf waxworks.

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The history of surf wax dates back to 1935, when Alfred Gallant Jr. decided to apply a small quantity of liquid floor wax on his surfboard (“Al gallant: Surf wax-ing Nostalgic,” 2019). He noted that not as before, the surf wax helped his feet stuck on the board, as the grip and friction forces were exponentially increased.

It is imperative to note that various principles of physics often characterize surfing. For instance, gravitational force and buoyancy are vital elements that interplay when waves pass underneath surfboards (Scheinbaum, 2016). The force of gravity pulls the board downwards, while the buoyancy creates upward forces to keep the surfboard in balance. Their functionalities are dependent on the mass of the surfboard. The larger the mass, the larger the gravity (“Surf science: The art of wax,” 2019).

Different types of surf wax vary in terms of efficiency or height at which the foot could be suspended on the board without slipping. These include Sex Wax, Terra Wax, and Sticky Bumps. The best type of wax can support the suspension of the foot, at the greatest height, without the surfer experiencing any slipping (Miller, 2003). To perform this test, temperature and humidity are used as changing variables that explain how the different types of waxwork. Previous testing results showed that Terra Wax was the best functional wax because it has treeless paper entangled in its wrapper, which prevents non-toxication and the hurting of the board.

Conclusion

In conclusion, surf wax is meant to provide surfers with high-performance maneuvers while using the surfboards. Since the Gallant introduced surf wax, waxes have improved magnificently, as they are made up of paraffin, resins, and synthetic rubbers at its base to provide greater friction and grip. Lately, basecoat has been used in the coating process, as it supports both warmer and cold temperatures, different from the initial liquid wax, which was only functional in warmer climates.

References

Miller, A. K. (2003). Surf wax friction. California state science fair 2003 project summary. http://csef.usc.edu/History/2003/Projects/S0214.pdf

Scheinbaum, C. (2016, July 6). Surf wax: Everything you need to know about that stuff stuck to your chest hair. The Inertia. https://www.theinertia.com/business-media/surf-wax-everything-you-need-to-know-about-that-stuff-stuck-to-your-chest-hair/

Waves of physics: The science of surfing. (2017, October 17). Science Connected Magazine. https://magazine.scienceconnected.org/2017/10/waves-physics-science-surfing/

Al gallant: Surf wax-ing Nostaglic. (2019, April 9). California Surf Museum. https://surfmuseum.org/stories/al-gallant-surf-wax-ing-nostaglic/

Surf Science: The art of wax. (2019, December 5). https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/surf-science-the-art-of-wax/

Transworld Surf. (2019, December 5). Surf Science: The art of wax. Men's Journal. https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/surf-science-the-art-of-wax/