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Re: [Phys-l] Bicycle question



You can ride a motorbyke slowly enough so that you turn the handle bars into the direction you want the bike to go, instead of the opposite direction. It is an interesting, and scary, exercise to ride the bike at the speed representing the dividing line between the two regimes.


On Aug 23, 2006, at 8:50 PM, Chuck Britton wrote:

At 6:52 -0400 on 8/23/06, Martha Takats wrote concerning Re:
[Phys-l] Bicycle question :
Isn't this essentially the same reason it's harder (takes more force)
to turn a corner when you're going fast (greater linear momentum)?
In this case it's angular momentum (sorry Sam). Tipping changes the
angular momentum of the wheel and so requires more torque when the
wheel is turning fast.
Martha Takats

Indeed the angular momentum becomes WAY more important on a motorbike
with greater speed and moment of inertia.

When riding a straight path at speed - making a quick turn to the
LEFT requires the rider to PUSH FORWARD on the LEFT handlebar. This
is hard to explain without resorting to Sam's nasty Angular Momentum.

(The steering effect of the the tires profile can be well illustrated
with two foam cups taped together rim to rim. The double cone steers
as it is tipped. none angular mom. effect)
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