Re: [Phys-l] Bicycle question

["Bob LaMontagne" <rlamont@postoffice.providence.edu>]

Yes, exactly. Likewise, it is easier to balance a pencil on your finger if
you a free to move your hand beneath the pencil than if you were forced to
keep your finger a fixed location. The rolling, even if slowly, allows you
to keep moving the bicycle sideways beneath you by turning the handle bars
to aid in balancing.

Bob at PC

> -----Original Message-----
> From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-
> bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of sampere
> Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 3:56 PM
> To: Forum for Physics Educators
> Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Bicycle question
>
> If anyone answers angular momentum, I'll scream! Or maybe it's the
> Bernoulli effect???
>
> Or maybe this is a good feedback system and it's easier to move your
> center of mass while you're rolling...
>
> Sam
>
> Savinainen Antti wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > a student asked me today if I could explain the physical
> > reason(s) to the following observation:
> >
> > It is easier to stay on a bicycle when it is moving with
> > some velocity whereas it is quite hard to stay up when
> > the bicycle is just barely moving.
> >
> > I thought about this for a while and said that it's
> > a good question! I promised to think about it.
> >
> > Any insights?
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Antti
> >
> > Kuopio Lyseo High School
> > Finland
> > Website: <http://kotisivu.mtv3.fi/physics/>
> _______________________________________________
> Forum for Physics Educators
> Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
> https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l