The Physics of Skiing
Traveling down a snow covered slope can be a pleasurable experience as long as nothing goes wrong; however, while on the trip to the ski lift, a skier must obey many of the laws of physics. The descent requires the skier to stay in control by using different techniques. He must use friction as well as distribute his weight to achieve maximum control. Other factors that influence the skier are the waxes he uses, the skis he wears, and the amount of wind resistance that acts against him. Friction is one of the most important aspects of skiing. It can be the difference between life and death in certain situations. As a skier speeds down a mountain, the only thing that can slow and stop a skier safely is friction. The more friction that is applied between the skis and the snow, the quicker a person can slow down. In order to increase friction, the skis are shifted to a horizontal state with the edges digging into the snow. In order to calculate the amount of force created by friction, the following equation is used: Ff = the force created by the friction, Fn = the force perpendicular to the direction of travel, ƒÝ = coefficient of friction (Jacobson). The type of wax on a ski must contain certain characteristic
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
Potential Energy, Cull Skis, , Ff=ƒÝFn Ff, wind resistance, potential energy, Energy PE, cause skier, factors influence, allows skier, bindings skis, ski poles, wears amount wind, wax absorb water, skis wears amount, tucked position, = force, wax absorb, factors influence skier, force created friction,
Approximate Word count = 1430
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
 |
