A boy weighing 60 kg stands on skis that are 1.8 m long and 15 cm wide. Determine the boy’s pressure on the snow.

m = 60 kg.

g = 10 m / s2.

L = 1.8 m.

a = 15 cm = 0.15 m.

P -?

The boy’s pressure on the snow P is the ratio of the force F with which he presses to the area over which this force spreads S, that is, to the area of the skis: P = F / S.

The boy presses with the force of his weight F, the value of which is expressed by the formula: F = m * g.

Since the shape of contact between skis and snow is rectangular, we express the area by the formula: S = a * L.

P = m * g / a * L.

P = 60 kg * 10 m / s2 / 0.15 m * 1.8 m = 2222.2 Pa.

Answer: the boy’s pressure on the snow is P = 2222.2 Pa.