Conservation of Energy Physics Demonstrated With Skiing

Quite interesting to see the physics of something that we can all more or less calculate in a split second while hauling ass explained in full detail by an expert. Here’s the question, can I keep my momentum to get up that incline across the way? Obviously, friction is a massive factor to on hill calculations made by skiers in situations like this, but even leaving aside this will still give you a new perspective on something we judge intuitively:

“A skier starts from rest at the top of a hill. The skier coasts down the hill and up a second hill, as shown. The crest of the second hill is circular, with a radius of r = 36m. neglect friction and air resistance. What must be the height h of the first hill so that the skier just loses contact with the snow at the crest of the second hill?”

p.s. you will automatically feel like you have Beautiful Mind after watching 16 minutes of someone doing equations on glass with the video rotated horizontally. Sick technique: simple, effective, smart.

• Ski Resort:  
•   Location:  
•   Categories:  
• Skiing