Explaining Forces in Bicycle Riding: How to Help Your Little Brother

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the physics of bicycle riding, specifically the forces involved when teaching a younger sibling to ride. The user concludes that while accelerating, the force exerted by the teacher is greater than that exerted by the brother, and the same applies when slowing down. This reasoning is grounded in Newton's laws of motion, particularly the Third Law, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Understanding these principles is essential for explaining the dynamics of force in this context.

PREREQUISITES
  • Newton's laws of motion
  • Basic concepts of force and acceleration
  • Understanding of action-reaction pairs
  • Fundamentals of bicycle dynamics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Newton's Second Law of Motion in detail
  • Explore practical applications of action-reaction pairs in everyday scenarios
  • Learn about friction and its effects on bicycle riding
  • Investigate the role of balance and stability in cycling
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Students learning physics, parents teaching children about motion, and anyone interested in the mechanics of bicycle riding.

aznspx
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Hi guys, my teacher gave every person in my class a problem to think about over the weekend...it should be pretty easy but let's just say that physics isn't my subject hahaha. well i was hoping you guys could help me out with this, the problem says:

"You are teaching your little brother to ride a bicycle. To get him started while he is speeding up, how does the force you exert on your brother compare to the force he exerts on you? Is the former greater than, less than, or equal to the latter? Explain your reasoning. As he continues to ride along, he gets scared and asks that you stop him so he doesn't fall. While you are slowing him down, how does the magnitude of the force you exert on him compare to the force he exerts on you? Is the former greater than, less than, or equal to the latter? Explain your reasoning."

this is what i was thinking:
1st question - you exert more force on the little brother
2nd question - you still exert more force on him

correct me if I'm wrong, and can somebody help me explain why it's so? thanks!
 
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What are Newton's laws of motion?
 
First Law: Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.

Second Law: The force of an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration.

Third Law: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
 
sorry for the double post, but can someone please help me? i need to know for tomorrow
 

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