What does downhill skiing have to do with Newtons Laws of motion: inertia, F=ma, and A/R?
Answer Hi Stephanie, Skiing has a lot to do with the laws of physics in relationship to generating and maintaining speed. One of the newest ways to increase speed at an appropriate opportunity on modern (the last 2 years of production) race skis is to take a less round line towards the gate and then dramatically tighten up the arc (radius) of the turn in order to create angular momentum (I think I’ve got the term right) as a result of angular motion and impulse. Obviously there are many other factors at play in dealing with speed such as gravity and friction. For the recreational skier the orientation is usually not about increasing speed but in ocntrolling it. The technique is related but varies due to this focus. As a result recreational skiing and racing is related but often quite different in terms of technique at the point where refinement occurs. The recreational skier is often more concerned about style (form) and the racer’s primary goal is to manage the fastest line from top t
