Turning radius of curved plane on an inclined plane

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the physics of skiing, specifically focusing on the formula for the turning radius of a ski during a carved turn on an inclined plane. Participants explore the dynamics involved in skiing turns, the forces at play, and the adequacy of existing models and formulas found online.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the validity of the common formula for ski turning, suggesting it only applies to flat surfaces and not to the dynamics of a ski digging into the snow during a turn.
  • Another participant emphasizes the role of the skier's weight distribution, noting that it is concentrated towards the rear of the ski, which affects how the ski interacts with the snow during a turn.
  • A different participant introduces a formula related to banked turns, indicating that friction should also be considered in the analysis of ski turns.
  • Some participants reference external resources but express dissatisfaction with their explanations, suggesting that they do not adequately address the complexities of skiing dynamics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus, as there are multiple competing views regarding the forces involved in skiing turns and the adequacy of existing models. Disagreement exists on the interpretation of how skis turn and the factors that should be included in the analysis.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in existing models, particularly regarding the assumptions made about the surface and the forces acting on the ski. There is also an indication that the discussion may be influenced by varying interpretations of skiing dynamics and the conditions under which turns occur.

karen_lorr
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Hi again.

I hope this is the right section to ask this question.

Not home work (I'm retired) but yet another mind game I'm playing (and still getting nowhere).

I have trying to work out the formula for how a ski will perform a carved turn.

I have looked at many (many Many) websites and they all seem (to me anyway) to have got it wrong, although it may be me who has it wrong.

All the website I can find give a ski turn as the Side Cut Radius x Cos(Edge Angle).

But surely this would only apply if a ski was running on a flat surface (inclined plane) at an angle with the skis edge. (Fig 1)

But in reality this will "never" happen (unless skiing in a straight line down a hill) as the ski will normally always be turning and dig into the snow and the force will be at 0' to the base of the ski. (Fig 2 and Fig 3)

I can't seem to upload the graphic I made with this. So here is the Hotmail/skidrive link to the graphic
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=907EBF936638CE55!120&authkey=!AOoxyzV1hMvNLD4&v=3&ithint=photo,jpg
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=907EBF936638CE55!120&authkey=!AOoxyzV1hMvNLD4&v=3&ithint=photo%2cjpg

Does anyone have any insights that would help me produce a formula?

Thanks

K
 
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fresh_42 said:

Yes I have. This is just one of the many sites I've seen that seem to me to have got it wrong.

On that site there is a section called "Force Balance For Skier Going Around A Purely Carved Turn"
But that is looking at this as an inclinded plane whereas it's more in line with (for example) a car going round a steep racing track and being held up with the centripetal force (I think)

The ski will in fact be pressing against the side of a wall it digs itself into not simply sliding round a turn (I am looking at a carve here not a slide).
 
The main effect that causes skis to turn is the movement of the skier's weight. It is not equally distributed along the ski but concentrated on its second half. So changing the weight towards left and on the rear end will not only dig into the snow but also apply more downforce to the rear end than to the front end. This causes the lighter front end to follow the force applied to the point beneath the skier which tangent points to the left.
I would try to draw a vector diagram of three dimensional force vectors using the snows resistance beneath the skier while he digs into the snow as the main point of where the forces apply to. One evidence that this is the crucial point is the fact, that you need a greater angle to dig in the faster you ski.
E.g. it is completely different on a mogul slope where you turn on top by generating a rotation.
 
I'm sorry but that's not correct.

I am trying to introduce something like tan
theta.gif
= v 2 / g r (banked turn) - of course I have left out F (friction) but if I can include this it go a long way towards what I'm looking for
 
Last edited:

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