Bicycle Wheel - Cycloid Generator

 

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 Code Number :   1D10.20

Disclaimer:

Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website.

The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources.

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Condition :   Excellent   
Principle :   Reference Frames 
Area of Study :  Mechanics  
Equipment :   Bicycle Wheel, 9 volt battery with Velcro, LED unit for 9 volt battery.
Procedure :   Using Velcro, attach the 9 volt battery with LED unit onto the rim of the bicycle wheel.  In a darkened room you will see that in the reference frame of the bicycle wheel, the LED moves in a circle.  However, if you role the wheel along the lecture bench, you will see that the LED describes a cycloid when looked at from the benches reference frame.

 

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   References

Roger Blickensderfer, "The Wheel and the Galilean Transformation,"  TPT, Vol. 26, # 3, p. 160, March 1988. 

 

Paul Wallich, "LED Candles,"  Popular Science, August 2006, p. 83.

 

Mail Questions and Comments to:  Dale Stille