Predict the motion of a ski jumper (without friction)

Image taken from The Olympic Channel's story on the 2018 World Championship

Let's try to figure out the speed of a ski jumper as he leaves the ramp -- assuming that there is no friction.

1. height of ramp H = 50 m
2. length of ramp (along the surface) L = 115 m

What is the angle θ of the ramp?

If the skier starts from rest at the top of the ramp, how fast will he be moving when he leaves the ramp at the bottom?

• Make a diagram of the situation.
• Draw a free-body diagram of the skier
• Make a table showing all the forces acting on the skier
• Determine the skier's acceleration down the track
• Compute the final speed of the skier, in m/s and mph
• Compute the time it should take to slide the given distance