Question

According the recent research, ice skaters are able to glide smoothly across the ice because

Answer 1

Although ice is solid, as long as temperatures are above −20°C (−4°F) there is always a very thin layer of water on the surface that makes it slippery. Extra melted water from the rubbing between the blade and the ice vastly reduces the friction allowing the skater to glide across the ice with little effort.