Friction is
what allows you to stay in control while skiing. Because friction is a
force that opposes motion, it is the reason you slow down. In order to
stop you use a lot of friction by applying the whole edge of your ski
perpendicular to the direction of travel. Skiers apply wax to the bottom
of their skis in order to decrease the coefficient of friction. This coefficient
is dependent upon snow conditions and varies with temperatures. On a colder
day the friction between the snow and the skis will decrease, but when
temperatures rise above 30 degrees, the friction increases and the snow
becomes sticky.
