Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site reed.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!tektronix!reed!sabol From: sabol@reed.UUCP (Bryan Sabol) Newsgroups: net.rec.ski,net.physics Subject: Re: ski tips, up or down? Message-ID: <1047@reed.UUCP> Date: Tue, 5-Mar-85 03:13:17 EST Article-I.D.: reed.1047 Posted: Tue Mar 5 03:13:17 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 8-Mar-85 02:46:59 EST References: <518@intelca.UUCP> Reply-To: sabol@reed.UUCP (PUT YOUR NAME HERE) Distribution: net Organization: Reed College, Portland, Oregon Lines: 22 Xref: watmath net.rec.ski:410 net.physics:2210 Summary: In answer to the aerodynamically important question of what the most optimum wayto load your skis, the answer in most every case is: DEFINATELY SKI TIPS FORWARD AND DOWN. The simple deductive reasoning is the following: 1)First, if one placed the tips up and forward, thinking of a 'spoiler' or such, the result would be a (relatively) great drag on the car. The only way the tips would help in the 'up' position would be if they were perfectly aerody- namic. Note the shape of an airplane wing -- there has to be a very specific ratio of upper suface to lower suface to provide the lift (or drag); a slight deviation from this ratio (e.g., our skis) will result in more wind disturb- ance and take a little from the car's gas milage. 2)Tips backward and up would only deflect the wind up. This position might be beneficial if one were driving a semi, as there was a large mass over which the air needed to be deflected. Otherwise, no help is given here. 3)Tips backward and down do mostly nothing, save add a little bit of turbulance by the flat ends of the skis (and the posts of the bracket assembly). 4)Tips forward and down will provide a 'smoother' path over the 'rough' posts of the ski rack and other bulky apparatae. Hope this is help to all those speed/gas milage-oriented skiiers!! Bryan Sabol (A Bio major, NOT a bloody physics major, for all it's worth!)