MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Subject: Why doesn't a rollerblader leaning into a tight turn fall over?

Date: Sun Oct 24 19:04:13 2010
Posted by Stephen
Grade level: 10-12 School: Mountain View High School
City: Mountain View State/Province: CA Country: USA
Area of science: Physics
ID: 1287972253.Ph
Message:

The net torque about any point in the rollerblader must be zero if the 
rollerblader is not to fall over.  If the torque is computed about his center 
of gravity, then the torque caused by the normal force of the ground up on his 
wheeels is balanced by the torque due to inward force of static friction of 
the ground on his wheels.  If these torques are computed about the contact 
point of the wheels on the ground, however, there seems to be a non-zero, net 
torque due to his weight since the normal and static friction forces act 
through the contact point and would not contribute to the torque about this 
point.  The moment of inertia of the wheels negligable.  How can there be a 
net torque about the contact point and none about the cg?


Re: Why doesn't a rollerblader leaning into a tight turn fall over?

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