The Loads on a Running Ski

Abstract

To analyze the forces acting on a ski during a traverse, refer to Figs. 4.5(a) and 4.5(b) in Chapter 4, p. 92, which depicts a skier running down an incline at an angle β from a horizontal line on the slope. Figure 4.5(b) illustrates the force diagram for the case illustrated in Fig. 4.5(a). The skier’s weight W may be resolved into force components normal to the slope, F ^N, and down the fall line, F ^S, as follows:

$$ \begin{array}{l}W = {F_N} + {F_{S,}} \\{F_N} = W\cos \alpha ,\quad {F_S} = W\sin \alpha \\\end{array} $$

((T3.1))

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