The Physics of Skiing

A detailed Summary of 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, fÝ = coefficient of friction (Jacobson).

The type of wax on a ski must contain certain characteristic

Skis are designed to spread the weight of a skier in order to provide more support as well as improve balance. Some of the characteristics that manufacturers consider when making a ski are ski length, ski width, and the material of the ski. The longer a ski is, the greater the stability is at higher speeds; however, a longer ski provides less turning ability. A shorter length of ski creates quicker acceleration and easier carving, but is less stable once higher speeds are reached. New discoveries in the ski industry have shown that shaped skis allow higher top speeds as well as quicker acceleration at a shorter length. Shaped skis provide less friction than older skis, which allows faster movement. Also, skis are made to be light weight and strong in order to provide durability and comfort.

One aspect of skiing that can be very enjoyable is jumping. When a jump is made, there are several factors that influence the outcome of the event. First, a skier must approach the ramp with enough velocity to launch into the air. If he hits the jump with very little velocity, he will merely ski over it. The next item in consideration is the angle of the ramp. It can be too steep which will cause the skier to decelerate and not reach the desired height or it can be too small and cause the skier to jump two inches off of the ground. Once the angle is adjusted to a thirty to forty-five degree angle, a skier can enjoy a trip through the air. To increase the length of time in the air, the ramp may be placed before a small cliff. If a skier wished to know his length of stay in the air, he could use the equation:

Skiing involves many aspects of physics. A skier, while skiing, must manipulate frictional force to control his speed. Other factors that influence a skier are the skis he wears, the amount of wind resistance acting on him, and the gravity that pulls him down the hill. If a skier wished to maximize his speed, he must wear very thin clothing that is not rough, buy skis that are shaped, and apply a wax that does absorb water while he remains in a tucked position. By respecting and using the laws

Some common words found in the essay are:
Potential Energy, Cull Skis, , Ff=fÝFn 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)

Category: Sports