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SteveDC
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A bike rolling down a hill will on average stay upright for longer than a free standing bike? I can't think of a way to explain why this is?
SteveDC said:A bike rolling down a hill will on average stay upright for longer than a free standing bike? I can't think of a way to explain why this is?
solar71 said:The wheels of a bicycle when spinning act as a gyro.
Probably the most important contribution to the understanding of bicycle physics is due to David Jones (Physics Today 23, April 1970) [1]. His first attempt to design an unridable bicycle by eliminating gyroscopic torques failed. Bicycles with tiny ball bearings instead of wheels proved to be perfectly ridable. Also compensating or even overcompensating gyroscopic torques by an additional dummy wheel turning in the opposite direction had no effect on rideability. His second attempt was successful. Bicycles which had a negative trail, i.e. a contact point K in front of the projection of the steering axis (see Fig. 1) were unridable. This demonstrated the importance of the steering geometry for bicycle riding.
CWatters said:That effect has been shown to be minimal or non-existent compared to the effect of trail in the steering geometry.
When a bicycle is in motion, it experiences a number of forces acting on it, including the force of gravity pulling it down the hill and the force of friction between the wheels and the ground. These forces work together to create a stabilizing effect, keeping the bike upright.
As a bicycle moves forward, its wheels create a gyroscopic effect, which is the tendency of a spinning object to resist changes in its orientation. This gyroscopic effect helps to keep the bike balanced and upright as it rolls down the hill.
Yes, a bicycle can stay upright when rolling down a hill even without a rider. This is due to the same forces of gravity and friction working together to create stability, as well as the gyroscopic effect of the spinning wheels.
Yes, the weight distribution on a bicycle can affect its balance and stability. When the rider shifts their weight, it can change the center of gravity of the bike, which can impact how it responds to the forces acting on it.
If the forces acting on a bicycle are unbalanced, such as if the rider leans too far to one side, the bike may start to tilt or fall over. However, as long as the forces are balanced, the bike should remain upright and in motion.