Ski Brakes

[loafer89]

I heard an article on New Radio 880 yesterday about a scientist who has developed electronic brakes for ski's. Apparently he has fitted a pair of ski's with electrodes on the bases that melt about 1mm of the snow surface underneath the bases, causing up to 35lbs of additional friction. The power source was said to be 4 AAA batteries and adjustable for how fast or slow you wanted your ski's to go.

Anyone else heard of this?

 

[bvibert]

Just what we need, skiers melting more of the snow on their way down the mountain!

 

[awf170]

why wouldnt u just do a run that is less steep... what an invention

 

[hammer]

Or here's another one...how about learning how to turn? What a concept!

 

[cbcbd]

I don't see how melting the snow causes more friction. If anything, I would think that it would make a nice layer of water between you and the snow, which would make you glide better (just as it happens with ice skating).

 

[loafer89]

Here is a link to the news article:

www.wcbs880.com/osgood/osgood_story_1

It's on the wcbs880 website under the osgood file for April 12th.

Apparently this invention can be used for automotive tires as well, there it might serve a much more usefull purpose when driving on snow/ice.

I just posted it because it sounded like an interesting :idea:

 

[JimG.]

I don't see how melting the snow causes more friction. If anything, I would think that it would make a nice layer of water between you and the snow, which would make you glide better (just as it happens with ice skating).

You are right and wrong...the structure of the base of a ski is designed to channel a small amount of water away from the ski to promote gliding. It is true that as a ski passes over snow, a small amount of snow melts and is channeled away.

When the water builds up too much though, the system is overwhelmed. Unlike a powered vehicle like a car which will hydroplane, a ski will bog down if there is too much water underneath it. This is why spring snow seems so heavy and hard to push through.

I suppose this principle could be used to stop a runaway ski.

 

[cbcbd]

I don't see how melting the snow causes more friction. If anything, I would think that it would make a nice layer of water between you and the snow, which would make you glide better (just as it happens with ice skating).

You are right and wrong...the structure of the base of a ski is designed to channel a small amount of water away from the ski to promote gliding. It is true that as a ski passes over snow, a small amount of snow melts and is channeled away.

When the water builds up too much though, the system is overwhelmed. Unlike a powered vehicle like a car which will hydroplane, a ski will bog down if there is too much water underneath it. This is why spring snow seems so heavy and hard to push through.

I suppose this principle could be used to stop a runaway ski.

Ah, now that makes sense. Thanks