"Walking" Along a Free Rotating Bicycle Wheel (Round and Round)

TL;DR

This paper explores the physics of a person walking on a freely rotating bicycle wheel, analyzing its kinematics, dynamics, and energy aspects to understand the motion involved.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the kinematic and dynamic behavior of walking on a rotating wheel, extending prior conceptual discussions with quantitative insights.

Findings

The motion involves complex interplay between walking and wheel rotation.

Energy considerations reveal how walking affects the wheel's rotational energy.

Kinematic analysis clarifies the relationship between walking speed and wheel rotation.

Abstract

We describe the kinematics, dynamics and also some energetic issues related to the Marta mouse motion when she walks on top of a horizontal bicycle wheel, which is free to rotate like a merry-to-go round, as presented recently by Paul Hewitt in the Figuring Physics section of this magazine.