Slippery Slope
Well the snow is gone now, but while there was snow on the slope near the Science building, it was quite slippery. I was willing to walk up the slippery slope, but not down. My physical intuition seemed to tell me that I would be more likely to slip and fall going down than going up.
What is the physics of propelling yourself up or down a snowy slope? Is my intuition correct? Are you more likely to slip going down or going up? Or are they about the same? Why was I instinctively more worried about the downhill trip?
Free Whitey's for the best answer posted here before 2007!
3 comments:
I think you are more likely to slip going down. Cause when you are going up the slope you tend to lean forward more to balance yourself. So you tend to fall less because you are more balanced. While when you go down the slope you really can't balance as well. If you lean forward you feel like you are going to fall down the slope but when you lean back you tend to slip and fall. I think the fact that different parts of your foot hitting the slope first (heel going down, toes/ball going up) has something to do with this also but I can't think of how. I think thats about it.
And :P cause I'm not posting at 11:59 on Dec. 31st. :)
Does this mean I get ice cream now since I'm the only one that posted?
Congratulations, Alaina. Enjoy your ice cream!
When I first thought about this problem, I was thinking aobut the maximum static friction and what it would take to slip. I decided you were actually more likely to slip going uphill. Why? Because friction has to provide a force not only to keep you from slipping downhill, but also to propel you up the hill. In that case you are more likely to exceed the maximum static friction and slip.
On further thought, though, I agree with Alaina that what makes the downhill slope more of a concern is the direction you are facing, not the likelihood of slipping. When you slip going up the slope, you can catch yourself. It's hard to catch yourself when you slip going down the slope, so you are much more likely to hurt yourself - or at least hurt your pride!
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