Snowmobile Aerial Maneuvers · CAP 2016 #P2

Physics · mechanics

Problem

Some people are not satisfied with just driving snowmobiles on snow and try high jumps on them, as seen on these pictures. In flight, the angle θ which the snowmobile makes with the horizontal can be changed by using the brakes or accelerator. Shortly explain how this is done, quoting the appropriate physics laws. Assuming that the mass of the snowmobile with the rider is about 250 kg and the mass of the rotating parts is about 20 kg, calculate what he has to do to tilt the snowmobile by θ =5° down (to lower the front) and then maintain the snowmobile at that angle. State any approximations and size estimates that you make.

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