An athlete weighing 80 kg stands on skis and exerts a pressure of 2.5 kPa on the snow

An athlete weighing 80 kg stands on skis and exerts a pressure of 2.5 kPa on the snow, determine the area of contact of the skis with the snow.

To calculate the required area of contact of the athlete’s skis with the snow, we use the formula: P = F / S, from where we express: S = F / P = m * g / P.

Variables and constants: m – athlete’s weight (m = 80 kg); g – acceleration due to gravity (g ≈ 10 m / s2); P is the pressure on the snow (P = 2.5 kPa = 2.5 * 10 ^ 3 Pa).

Calculation: S = m * g / P = 80 * 10 / (2.5 * 10 ^ 3) = 0.32 m2.

Answer: The area of contact of the athlete’s skis with the snow is 0.32 m2.