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From: king@kestrel.ARPA (Dick King)
Newsgroups: net.puzzle
Subject: A Bicycle Puzzle
Message-ID: <5648@kestrel.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 10-Mar-86 17:02:16 EST
Article-I.D.: kestrel.5648
Posted: Mon Mar 10 17:02:16 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Mar-86 22:30:59 EST
Organization: Kestrel Institute, Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 35


   From: eirik@tekchips.UUCP (Eirik Fuller)
   Newsgroups: net.puzzle
   Date: 28 Feb 86 15:02:18 GMT
   Reply-To: eirik@tekchips.UUCP (Eirik Fuller)


   Flame me if you've seen this before, or if this is in the wrong
   newsgroup.  I hadn't seen it before I thought of it.

   On a bicycle with both tires the same diameter, which wheel has a
   larger average angular velocity?  In more concrete terms, suppose
   you have one of those newfangled bicycle computer gizmos.   On which
   wheel should you mount the sensor to register more mileage?

   Assumptions:  neglect variations in tire diameter due to tire
   compression.  Assume that neither wheel slips.  Treat this purely as
   a geometry problem (it is not a trick question).

   One small hint:  I thought of this as I was grinding my way
   up a steep hill on my fixed gear.

   I am willing to collect and summarize mail responses.

Sorry about the delay if this problem has been answered before -- I
don't read this group too often.

When the bike goes straight both wheels turn equally (neglecting the
fact that the rubber is compressed just before the wheel touches down,
which I think I should neglect due to assumptions:).  On a turn, the
front wheel has a larger turning radius and therefore goes further.

Sorry about net posting -- my site can't send to UUCP (or if it can I
would appreciate someone telling me how).

-dick