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Re: shifting one's weight



Guntbert Reiter says:

Here I notice a difference between you model and a bike: the bike
CAN "move" so that the center of mass keeps its position right
above the line between the contact-points of wheel and floor.

This is in error. If you will notice, it is also possible for the see-saw
to tip in one direction as the mass extends in the other direction such
that the CoM would remain above the pivot. That would be exactly analogous
to the bicycle trick you describe:

Try this: rolling at
whatever speed slowly tilt you upper body to the right side and
you will notice that the frame of the bike is tilted to the left.

Certainly, this action is possible - I've done it many times. But it is
not the only thing which can happen.

--
--James McLean
jmclean@chem.ucsd.edu
post doc
UCSD