Final answer:
The motorcycle turns left when the right handlebar is pulled due to the gyroscopic effect and conservation of angular momentum leading to a change in angular momentum perpendicular to the original rotation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a physics student notices that pulling back lightly on the right handlebar of a motorcycle causes the bike to tip to the left and initiate a left turn, it is an application of gyroscopic effects and conservation of angular momentum. This phenomenon occurs because the wheels of the motorcycle act like gyros with angular momentum.
When you apply a torque, such as pulling on the handlebar, it creates a change in angular momentum perpendicular to the original rotation. This causes the motorcycle to lean in the direction opposite to where the torque was applied, initiating a counterintuitive but effective turn.
When driving a motorcycle, pulling back lightly on the right handlebar causes the cycle to tip to the left and produce a left turn due to the conservation of angular momentum. In this case, the motorcycle is like a gyroscope, and when the rider pulls back on the right handlebar, a torque is applied to the wheel. This torque causes a change in the direction of the angular momentum, which results in the motorcycle tipping to the left and producing a left turn.