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From: dkw@brunix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: A question of balance
Message-ID: <3073@brunix.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 25-May-83 15:18:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: brunix.3073
Posted: Wed May 25 15:18:23 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 28-May-83 16:03:19 EDT
Lines: 17

I'm afraid that I am not convinced that the gyroscopic effects are the only
reason a bike stays upright.  There are two arguments against this:
1.  If it is a gyroscopic effect anyone should be able to stay on a bike and
	training wheels should be of no help to anyone trying to learn how to
	ride.  I have seen beginners who have trouble with balance, so
	presumably there is some skill involved in balancing.

2.  How do I manage not to fall when ice skating?  My center of gravity is
	almost as high, the speeds involved are comparable and there is no
	gyroscopic effect.  Skill at bicycling appears to carry over to
	skating ( at least the ability to balance when one starts), so it seems
	likely that similar affects are involved.


	David Wittenberg	Brown University
	{decvax, yale-comix, cornell, ihnp4, vax135, allegra}!brunix!dkw
	dkw.brown@udel-relay	(csnet)