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What is the Ideal Shoe for Walking - Coggle Diagram
What is the Ideal Shoe for Walking
What Makes a shoe Ideal
Comfortable
The wearer will enjoy walking more
Good Traction
If a shoe has good traction, the wearer is less likely to fall or slip when walking on smooth or uneven surfaces such as gravel preventing potential injury
Energy Saving
If a shoe is energy saving, it increases the distance that the wearer can travel.
Durable
The more durable a shoe is, the longer the user will be able to use it before it has to be replaced. This is also better for the environment as it reduces the number of shoes being wasted every year
Flexible
When walking on uneven surfaces, the more flexible a shoe is, the more evenly force is exerted on a wearer's foot, preventing injury.
Factors
Ergonomic Shape
When the wearer takes a step, they exert a force on the floor which exerts an equal and opposite force back according to Newton's Third Law. If the shoe has an ergonomic shape, the force is distributed evenly along the wearer's foot.
Possible Experiment: Explore the impact force of different rounded objects on a flat surface
IV: Curvature of rounded object
10 Degrees
5 Degrees
15 Degrees
Flat
DV: Force on flat surface
Controlled Variables
Material of rounded object
Material of flat surface
Velocity at which the rounded object moves at before collision
Mass of rounded obect
F(BA)=-F(AB)
Light Weight
As force is directly proportional to mass, the lighter a shoe is, the less force required to move it is, reducing the energy consumed while walking.
Possible Experiment: Explore how the mass of a shoe effects the force required to lift it
IV: Mass of shoe
200 g
300 g
400 g
500 g
DV: Force required to lift shoe
Controlled Variables
Speed at which shoe is being lifted
Shape and size of shoe
F=ma {Newton's First Law}
High Energy Return of the sole
When the wearer takes a step, if the sole compresses and absorbs energy, increases the time of impact with the floor decreasing the force the floor exerts on the foot. Additionally, when the wearer raises their foot, the sole decompresses providing a small force which lowers the amount of energy consumed by the wearer (Schuldz, 2023).
Possible Experiment: Explore the energy return of different materials by dropping a marble onto the fabric and measuring the height the marble bounces to
IV: Type of Material
Rubber
Memory Foam
Cork
Leather
DV: Height of bounce
Controlled Variables
Initial Height
Marble Size and Weight
Thickness of material
F=ΔP/ΔT
Friction of Outsole
The better the coefficient of friction of the outsole, the better the shoe's traction with its walking surface. However, if the coefficient of friction can't be too high, as this increases the force required to lift the shoe off the ground increasing the energy consumed by walking.
Possible Experiment: Explore the coefficient of friction of outsoles which have different levels of hardness
IV: Hardness of outsole
60A
70 A
80 A
90 A
DV: Coefficient of friction with the walking surface
Controlled Variables
Walking Surface
Design of Outsole
Environmental Conditions
Breathable Fabric
The more breathable the shoe's fabric is, the better the airflow is inside the shoe, decreasing sweating, improving comfort and reducing odours (Bosita, 2023).
Possible Experiment: Test the air-permeability of fabrics by placing cold water in a glass and covering it with fabric before placing a second glass upside down atop the original glass. Record the temperature in the second glass.
IV: Type of Material
Leather
Suade
Wool
Cotton
DV: Temperature of second glass
Controlled Variables
Temperature of cold water
Thickness of Fabric
Surface area between glasses
Initial temperature of both glasses
Flexible front
The more flexible the front of a shoe is, the better force can be diverted away from the tip of the wearers foot preventing bruising or swelling of the toes.
Possible Experiment: Explore the force exerted on a sharp object (representative of the tip of a wearers foot) when it collides with a flat surface (representative of the front of the shoe) of different hardnesses
IV: Hardness of flat surface
70 D
80 D
90 D
100 D
DV force exerted on the sharp object
Controlled Variables
Hardness of sharp object
Mass of sharp object
Shape of sharp object
Velocity at which the sharp object collides with the flat surface
Angle at which the sharp object collides with the flat surface
Subjective Factors
Aesthetic
Brand
Size
External Factors
Climate
Hot Temperatures
Shoes that allow air to pass through such as knit sneakers are ideal for hotter temperatures
Cool Temperatures
Shoes that offer good insulation such as winter boots are more ideal for cooler temperatures
Snow
Walking on snow heavily reduces traction with specific outsoles designed to increase traction on snow
Rain
Shoes that are waterproof are ideal for running in the rain
Walking Surface
Moisture
Wet surfaces require a different type of outsole design compared to that of other surfaces
Type of surface
Most surfaces such as concrete, mud, ice or gravel have different recommended outsole designs
Smoothness of surface
Smoother surfaces require outsoles with more traction
Hardness
Softer surfaces lower the importance of soft insoles and increase the need for rigid insoles for stability