Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

i'm trying to come up with a good project for creating better ways to make synthetic snow (like on ski resorts)
Does anyone have any ideas?

I'm all out of bright ideas at the moment. I did find this article on how snow machines work.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/snow-maker3.htm

tweek wrote:i'm trying to come up with a good project for creating better ways to make synthetic snow (like on ski resorts)
Does anyone have any ideas?

The website johnsteele posted is very interesting, and I think will help you find your project topic. You need to first define what parts need to be made better. For example, making snow takes a lot of water, but the snow makers are clever; they collect the melted water at the base of the moutain and reuse it. Thus, they fixed a problem (cost of water, source of water) and made it better. So what problems are there with artificial snow? Once you identify the problems, then you can try to idenitify solutions (and science fair projects!) If you can not think of solutions, post your list of identified problems back here, and I'm sure people will have ideas!

Louise

Ok. So based on what you said. I guess I need to know a problem people have with snow makers that I could fix. I know from personal experience that fake snow is Icier to snowboard on than natural snow.

tweek wrote:Ok. So based on what you said. I guess I need to know a problem people have with snow makers that I could fix. I know from personal experience that fake snow is Icier to snowboard on than natural snow.

Okay. Why is this a problem? If you can try to describe exactly why "icier" is bad, then you can start to identify how to fix it.

Did you look at the website about making snow?


Louise

Not sure if this will help you find a problem that you can "fix", but here's a explanation in a patent application of problems with snow guns. The original patent application will likely have details of how his invention provided a novel solution to the problems
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6129290.html

I also looked at the reference that johnsteel gave you showing how snow guns work. Often times, looking at the process in detail will give you an idea of potential pitfalls. Look at each step, thinking what can go wrong here. Remembering Murphy's law, "Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong." Once you realize what can go wrong, think about how to fix it.

Ok "icier" snow is bad. You can't snowboard on it very well and it damages your board (or skis). Its very solid and instead of moving through it or gliding on it you grind over the top and have no control.
that.... is Icy snow.

tweek wrote:Ok "icier" snow is bad. You can't snowboard on it very well and it damages your board (or skis). Its very solid and instead of moving through it or gliding on it you grind over the top and have no control.
that.... is Icy snow.

When I ask something, sometimes, I know the answer already, I'm just trying to get you to think along a certain path, so... try to expand beyond answering exactly what I am asking. Detailed replies from you are welcome!

I think you have several potentially interesting topics here....

Okay, so lets look at your answer. There are two parts.

1)You can't snowboard on it very well and it damages your board (or skis)?
Why is this? (Obviously, it is because it is ice! But what part of the snowmaking process makes it hard? Are the chunks too big, are they the wrong shape, do they have sharp edges that cut the material on the board? To answer this question you will need to do some research... but, if you can figure out what is "wrong" about icy snow, then you can think about how to fix it)

2) Its very solid and instead of moving through it or gliding on it you grind over the top and have no control.
Okay, do the same thing. Why do you grind and not glide? Is this due to the shape, the density, or what?

If you cannot find the answers, then maybe this could be your science fair project... what property of artificial snow is damaging to ski equipment?

Let me know how it goes!

Louise