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Experimental
A bicycle, two scales, spring balances, and various weights to
represent a rider are provided for this
laboratory. The objective of the
measurements is to determine the forces and moments experienced by
the bicycle/rider
system with the bicycle in both the vertical position and inclined
at several angles to the vertical.
The bicycle should be placed with
its wheels on the two scales to obtain a measurement of the vertical
force
between the wheels and the road. The spring balances may be attached to the
cross-bar and to the wheel supports to obtain horizontal forces. The angle
of the bicycle with respect to the vertical may be measured using an inclinometer,
and the angle measured with this device should be compared to one obtained
from geometric measurements.
With the bicycle vertical and with no
rider on the bike, determine the vertical forces acting on each
wheel (R1
and R2). From these measurements, estimate the horizontal location of the center
of mass of
the "empty" bicycle. Use the weights provided to
represent a rider, and place them on the saddle and at
various locations
along the crossbar. Measure the values of R1 and R2 as a function of the position of
the
"rider" and plot this data using Excel. The graph may be plotted as
the data is acquired as this
provides a visual check of the measurements
made.
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