Which term denotes the contact force generated as the skis press into the snow, often described as resistance to sliding?

Which term denotes the contact force generated as the skis press into the snow, often described as resistance to sliding?

• A. Friction
• B. Gliding
• C. Guiding
• D. Matching

Answer: (A)

Friction is the contact force that resists sliding between two surfaces. When skis press into the snow, the weight creates a normal force pushing the ski base into the snow, and the interaction at the contact patch generates friction. This friction is what you feel as resistance to sliding and it helps you control speed and trajectory, especially as you edge and carve. The other terms don’t describe this resistive interaction: gliding is the motion over snow, while guiding and matching aren’t standard terms for this contact-force effect.

Friction is the contact force that resists sliding between two surfaces. When skis press into the snow, the weight creates a normal force pushing the ski base into the snow, and the interaction at the contact patch generates friction. This friction is what you feel as resistance to sliding and it helps you control speed and trajectory, especially as you edge and carve. The other terms don’t describe this resistive interaction: gliding is the motion over snow, while guiding and matching aren’t standard terms for this contact-force effect.