SnowboardingHow are physics related to

snowboarding?

By: Hannah Buyeske

GravityOne concept of snowboarding

is gravity. Gravity is used in snowboarding while you are riding down the slopes. Gravity pulls your body and your board down so you don’t go flying all over the place while you do tricks. Gravity is also what keeps your board on the trail. If you were to perform a stunt and gravity was not around, you would never descend.

FrictionFriction helps you stop your

board when you want to. Friction acts on everything as long as matter as present. Since there is friction everywhere, it effects your speed as you are going down the slopes. So now, snowboards are made with composite materials that reduces the amount of friction given to your board. There are also different styles of boards that reduce the amount of friction. Racing boards are skinny and very light weight which will make you travel much faster. While beginner boards are heavier and wider to produce more friction.

AccelerationAcceleration increases

and decreases as you board down the slopes. It can tell you your change of speed in the amount of time it took you to go down the slopes. Acceleration varies with the steepness of a slope and length of it. It can also occur when you are coming to a stop. The only thing is, the type of acceleration is called a negative acceleration.

SpeedYour speed can be calculated

by the distance you traveled by the time it took you get to your destination. Speed is actually the key concept in moving down your slope. If there was no speed, then snowboarding would not be possible. This concept makes snowboarding very dangerous and difficult. If you fall, you are almost certain to break bones or sprain muscles. Even though this concept may be dangerous, it is needed in many different things.

VelocityIn snowboarding you need

speed, but you also need velocity. Judging by how fast you go and the distance your going can determine how quickly you will get to your spot. When you are snowboarding, you do not go down the slope in a strait line. You turn and move in all different directions. Velocity will help you calculate your distance if you know what direction you are traveling in.

Kinetic/Potential EnergyKinetic energy and

potential energy is necessary in snowboarding. Especially when you are snowboarding on a ramp. When you travel to one side of the ramp and are heading up the side you have kinetic energy. When you are in the air and on your way down, you have potential energy.

http://www.snowboardcanada.com/video_display/video:1527/NBD-The-Batchelor-Roll

Here is a short clip on snowboarding.

Enjoy.

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snowboardinghttp://www.mrfizzix.com/snowboarding/index.htmhttp://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/211_fall2002.web.dir/Marvin

%20Casanova/index.htmhttp://www.snowboard-coach.com/snowboard-

physics.htmlhttp://www.snowboard-coach.com/snowboard-

physics.htmlhttp://www.bomberonline.com/articles/physics.cfm