Question

A skier starts at the top of a snow ball with negligible speed and skis straight down the side. At what point does he lose contact with the snowball.

• A. θ = sin^-1$\frac { 2 } { 3 }$
• B. θ = cos^-1$\frac { 2 } { 3 }$
• C. θ = tan^-1$\frac { 2 } { 3 }$
• D. None of these

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

θ = cos^-1$\frac { 2 } { 3 }$

Answer 2

= mgh = mgR(1 – cos θ)

or = 2mg (1 – cos θ)

Condition of losing contact $\frac { \mathrm { mv } ^ { 2 } } { \mathrm { R } }$ = mg cos θ

or 2mg(1 – cos θ) = mg cos θ or θ = cos^-1$\frac { 2 } { 3 }$