Whether you are riding or living normally, physics concepts are acting on you all the time, every day. In snowboarding, physics concepts play a major part. Gravity, for example, holds you on the earth and keeps you from floating away.
      Gravity, as it does on earth when walking, works the same way in snowboarding. While riding, a constant physics concept of 9.8 Newtons (N) is pushing down on every inch of your body. Not only does this physics concept pull you down the mountain, but it keeps your board on the trail as well. If you performed an aerial stunt and gravity wasn't present, you would never descend.
      The next of the major physics concepts in snowboarding is friction. Not only does it allow you to carve, but it also allows you to stop the board at the base of the trail. Friction is a physics concept that causes negative acceleration and the overall creation of heat over time. Friction acts on everything as long as matter is present, so, on earth, friction is present everywhere. Since this physics concept affects the speed of a run, snowboards are made with special composite materials that reduce friction as much as possible. The basic core materials in snowboards include wood and plastic, but others are used to reduce and add weight. Different board styles reduce friction as well. An example of this is a racing snowboard compared to a freestyle board. The racing board, due to its sleek, skinny, light-weight design, rides much faster. Of course, some riders (especially beginners) may want more friction. It is obviously easier to learn with less speed, so training boards are also sold. Tricks are easier to perform with less speed. For this type of riding, freestyle boards are available.
     Another physics concept involved in snowboarding is acceleration. Acceleration speeds you up as you ride down a trail. It tells you your change of speed over a given amount of time. The formula used to determine this is Velocity Final minus Velocity Initial over Time Final minus Time Initial. On paper this would look like A= Vf - Vi / Tf - Ti. Acceleration varies with the steepness of a trail. Acceleration also occurs when you are slowing down to a stop. This type of acceleration is called negative acceleration. Despite arguments, there is no such physics concept as deceleration.
    The last major physics concept involved in snowboarding is speed (or velocity). This can be measured by calculating the distance you have traveled divided by the time it takes you to ride the distance ( V= D / T ). Speed is the key physics concept to movement on the mountain. Without speed, snowboarding would not be possible. It is mainly measured in miles per hour or kilometers per hour, but can also be measured using any distance and time measurements. This physics concept makes the sport extremely difficult and dangerous. Falling at high speeds can easily break bones and sprain muscles.
    In conclusion, the entire sport of snowboarding relies on physics concepts. From the time you step on the lift to the time you hit the base of the mountain, physics concepts affect your every movement and action. For more information on the physics concepts of snowboarding and other snowboarding related websites, click on the links tab.