Fun With Math: Bicycle Edition

Written by Boston Biker on May 22

Bikes are a surprisingly effective way to teach tricky physics.

 

For instance, did you know you wouldn’t be able to steer a bicycle in zero g?

When you were learning to ride a bicycle you thought gravity was your enemy, trying to make you fall over. But without gravity, you wouldn’t be able to steer, say Cornell engineers. To demonstrate the concept, they built a hybrid vehicle they call a “bricycle” – a cross between a bicycle and a tricycle – that demonstrates what it would be like to ride a bike in zero-G. (Assume you have magnetic wheels to keep you on the floor.) (via)

Watch the video for a full demonstration on just how hard it would be to steer a bicycle in zero g.

You might also find this interesting. If you were to pull straight backwards on the lower pedal of a bicycle which way would the bicycle go?

Seems simple…right?  Think you know the answer? Click here to see a demonstration. Did you guess correctly?

 

 

Tags: bicycle, math, physics, video
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