Air Resistance In Snow Skiing
Air resistance is an opposing force often known as drag force. Air resistance acts in the opposite direction to snow skier’s velocity and can either harm or enhance performance of the athlete. The flow of air around an object causes the unavoidable effect of drag and is influenced by the size, shape, surface, and overall speed of an object (John Polson, 2013). Air resistance is present in snow skiers and can inhibit their performance in a race greatly if the proper precautions and positions are not met. Three of the main aspects of snow skiing are posture, clothing and location; all of which are affected by air resistance.
The drag force of an object is influenced by size, shape surface area and velocity of the object. The force of drag is …show more content…
2015). The drag coefficient can be found by rearranging the drag force equation to get C_D=D/(0.5pv^2 A) . Where D is the drag force measured in Newtons (N), p is the air density in kilograms per cubic metre (kgm-3), v is velocity in metres per second (ms-1) and A is frontal surface area measured in squared metres (m2). The diagram below shows the general drag coefficients of basic shapes. To minimise the force of drag on the skier a streamlined body shape would create the least amount of drag force …show more content…
The clothing of the skier affects the drag force impacting on the skier. Typically in professional snow skiing tight suits are worn with thermal materials to keep the skier warm and to avoid bulk, as bulkier clothing creates greater force of drag due to a greater surface area on the person. The tight clothing, create a reduced frontal surface area, which reduces the drag force of the object.
Figure 4 demonstrates the slip stream of air resistance around objects with different frontal surface areas. The diagram displays that the bulkier and taller increased frontal surface area of the object creates high amounts of drag because of the flow of air around and behind the object. The aerofoil shape is the most effective shape to reduce air resistance as the flow of air around the shape minimises drag. A skier would want to create the same effect as the aerofoil shape to increase velocity, which is conducted through the use of tight clothing and body positions such as the
The drag force of an object is influenced by size, shape surface area and velocity of the object. The force of drag is …show more content…
2015). The drag coefficient can be found by rearranging the drag force equation to get C_D=D/(0.5pv^2 A) . Where D is the drag force measured in Newtons (N), p is the air density in kilograms per cubic metre (kgm-3), v is velocity in metres per second (ms-1) and A is frontal surface area measured in squared metres (m2). The diagram below shows the general drag coefficients of basic shapes. To minimise the force of drag on the skier a streamlined body shape would create the least amount of drag force …show more content…
The clothing of the skier affects the drag force impacting on the skier. Typically in professional snow skiing tight suits are worn with thermal materials to keep the skier warm and to avoid bulk, as bulkier clothing creates greater force of drag due to a greater surface area on the person. The tight clothing, create a reduced frontal surface area, which reduces the drag force of the object.
Figure 4 demonstrates the slip stream of air resistance around objects with different frontal surface areas. The diagram displays that the bulkier and taller increased frontal surface area of the object creates high amounts of drag because of the flow of air around and behind the object. The aerofoil shape is the most effective shape to reduce air resistance as the flow of air around the shape minimises drag. A skier would want to create the same effect as the aerofoil shape to increase velocity, which is conducted through the use of tight clothing and body positions such as the