Question

Identify which of the following forces act on the bicycle rider system, and sort them accordingly?

1) Gravity
2) Friction
3) Air resistance
4) Applied force

Answer 1

In the case of a bicycle and rider system, the key forces at play include gravity, friction, air resistance, and applied force. These forces interact following Newton's laws of motion, contributing to the movement and stability of the bicycle and rider.

Step-by-step explanation:

When analyzing the forces acting on a bicycle and rider, we can identify both internal and external forces that affect their movement. Some of these forces include:

• Gravity: The force that attracts the bicycle and rider towards the center of the earth.
• Friction: This force opposes the motion of the bicycle and occurs both at the point of contact between the tires and the road and within the gears and chain mechanisms of the bicycle.
• Air resistance: This acts in the opposite direction to the motion of the bicycle and rider, increasing with their speed.
• Applied force: The force exerted by the rider to propel the bicycle forward.

These forces play crucial roles in the physics of cycling, where Newton's First Law of Motion illustrates the principle of inertia, and the interactions between these forces define the motion of the bicycle and rider system.