Final answer:
An example of force applied to a wheel is when the outer edge of a bicycle wheel is touched to a moving treadmill. Other relevant examples include a bowling ball rolling down an alley and a car taking a bend at constant speed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The example of a force being applied to a wheel is c. touching the outer edge of a bicycle wheel to a treadmill that is moving at different speeds. In this scenario, the force applied to the wheel from the treadmill causes the wheel to rotate at varying speeds depending on the treadmill's speed. It is a clear demonstration of how an external force affects the motion of a wheel, causing changes in rotational speed and hence kinetic energy of the wheel.
Other examples where force is applied to a wheel or a spherical object include a bowling ball rolling down a bowling alley and a car rounding a bend at a constant speed. Both involve a force causing or changing the motion of a spherical object or a wheel, though in the case of the bowling ball, it is primarily the initial force that sets it in motion, while in the case of the car, it is a continuous force maintaining the car's motion on a curved path.