Course Description: Physics 101 for Those Who Had Better Things To Do In College Than Study
Also recommended for those of us who don't fly airplanes (as per Dave's response to Capt. Eddie) Lecture transcript: Think of a steering wheel as nothing more than a round lever. We all know that a long lever combined with a stationary fulcrum will require a longer stroke of downward motion to lift a heavy weight while requiring less physical effort on the part of the user than if a shorter lever were applied to the same load and fulcrum position. The same can be said for the steering wheel. The larger wheel requires the hand in a stationary position on the wheel to move more inches to achieve a 1/4 turn of the column while requiring less physical effort to do so. The hand on a smaller wheel will travel fewer inches of motion, thus taking less time, but requiring more physical effort to achieve that same 1/4 turn of the column. Result: Large wheel = more time, more motion, less physical effort to achieve "X" reaction. Small wheel = less time, less motion, more physical effort to achieve same reaction. As to the choice of one's tool, again, I offer another primitive comparison: Anyone can lift a 25# dumbell once, twice, three times. But what about repeatedly lifting that same dumbell for an hour? Perhaps some individuals can, but at what cost in terms of fatigue once the task is completed? Chances are better that some can perform the same task for an hour using a 10# or 15# dumbell and not reach an inordinate level of fatigue, and some may only accomplish the hour-long task with a 5# weight. It all depends on the individual ratio of strength to endurance, so steering wheel size would be chosen accordingly. No pop quiz - everybody gets an "A". Class Dismissed. Sammye > >> Gary >> Maybe I'm missing something here...wouldn't a larger wheel give you more >> turn for less input? >> (PS - I was lousy at physics so be kind) >> Ed Capullo >> >> >> If by less input you mean less force then yes ( that's why cars with >> power steering usually have smaller wheels, you don't need as much >> force with the boost), I think he is saying that you get finer >> control with the large wheel, you can move it farther with less >> turning of the wheels >> >> -- >> Fran > > Exactly. My dad uses the larger wheel because it slows down the user > input. Thus you have to turn the wheel more to turn the front end. > For him, the larger wheel allows him to be smoother behind the wheel. > > Then we have the other side... > > At an event last year Kurt Janish (CP) broke his steering wheel, 13"er > I think, and he borrowed our 11" wheel to finish the event. He wasn't > sure what to expect but he liked it, as he didn't have to turn the > wheel as much to get the car to react. > > Gary > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: > Re: [F500] Steering wheel diameter vs spindle angle > From: > Gene Bennett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: > Thu, 1 Mar 2007 22:36:50 -0800 > To: > [email protected] > > To: > [email protected] > > > Well, you have to define your terms. :) In either case you will turn > the steering wheel the same number of radians to get the same change > in spindle angle. A larger steering wheel means you move the rim more > linear distance to get that number of radians. More arm motion with > less effort for the same spindle angle. Conversely, a smaller > steering wheel will require more effort, but require less arm motion. > Confused yet? > > Gene near Seattle ________________________________ FormulaCar Magazine - A Proud Supporter of Formula 500 The Official Publication of Junior Formula Car Racing Subscribe Today! www.formulacarmag.com or 519-624-2003 _________________________________ _______________________________________________ F500 mailing list - [email protected] To unsubscribe or change options please visit: http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500 *** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe requests to the mailing list! ***
