Name of the movement of a wheel

[usrhlp]

I would really like someone to answer this simple question.

I have searched the net and i cannot find the answer, i know i have only just read it but i cant remember where.

Basically all i want to know is the name of the movement of a while when it is moving a vehicle (i dont mean around in a circle, it's the one where it arches over on each movement, like crawling when you drag your arms back, they remain still but your body moves forwards).

Also can you show me a website that explains it? Just the website that explained would be fine but if you can explain it here i will be more than grateful.

Thanks
Dean

[russ_watters]

Vertically, its simple harmonic motion. HERE (http://schutz.ucsc.edu/~josh/5A/book/harmonic/node9.html) is a diagram. I'm not sure if the horizontal motion has a name.

Edit: I guess horizontally, its also harmonic, but with a positive displacement. Take the sine or cosine graph and add 1.

[usrhlp]

Thank you sir, that is almost what i was looking for, it isn't exactly it but it may help me find what i need!

Im mainly thinking about the movement of the part of the wheel that touches the floor.

ill draw a picture and upload it if i can. Dont laugh at my van gogh artist skills! :rofl:

Basically im interested in the Red point of the wheel in that diagram. What is that motion / path of that point of the wheel called when it turns round and drives a machine?

I hope the picture can help explain what i am trying to get at! :)

[Petrushka]

That looks a bit like a sin^2 graph to me.

If you plotted y= (sinx)^2 then you would get something very similar to that..

[Gokul43201]

Petrushka, I believe the curve you are looking for is a cycloid. A cycloid is the path traced out by a point on the circumference of a moving wheel. For points inside and outside the wheel, you get epi- and hypo-cycloids.

[usrhlp]

Absolutely BANG ON THE MONEY!
thank you sir!
i owe you a few drinks!! :smile:

[Rab]

its circular motion + linear motion to get the displacement

[usrhlp]

http://schutz.ucsc.edu/~josh/5A/book/notes/node60.html

http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/rolling.html

those two sites sum it up perfectly!

[Gokul43201]

Absolutely BANG ON THE MONEY!
thank you sir!
i owe you a few drinks!! :smile:

I'm known for not refusing such offers :tongue2: