Question

A 48-kg skier is going down a slope oriented 33° above the horizontal. The area of each ski in contact with the snow is 0.13 m2. Determine the pressure that each ski exerts on the snow.

Answer 1

Solution :

Given :

mass (m) = 48 kg

= 33°

And, A = 0.13 m²

Note that the skier's weight will be divided by two (2) since he is standing on two (2) skis :

P = (N/2) / A

Where; N = Normal contact force = m g cos

Thus : Pressure (P) = (m g cos / 2) / A = (m g cos) / 2 A = {(48 kg)(9.8 m/s²)cos(33°)} / (2 x 0.13 m² ) = 1517.35 Pa

Therefore : the pressure that each ski exerts on the snow is 1517.35 Pa