"Inside Britain's biggest sewer under London's River Thames":
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-e ... t-65091803
Today's physics question: How fast would you have to go for a full loop?
Jonathan
"Inside Britain's biggest sewer under London's River Thames"
Re: "Inside Britain's biggest sewer under London's River Thames"
The minimum speed would be where the centrifugal force given by mv^2/r (m=mass, v= speed, r is radius) balances the weight given by mg (g is acceleration due to gravity)
Rearranging the min speed vmin = sqrt(gr)
Taking the radius as 2.5m snd g=9.8m/s2 gives 4.9m/s or 18km/hr.
Would need to be faster than that to maintain grip at the top of the loop.
Rearranging the min speed vmin = sqrt(gr)
Taking the radius as 2.5m snd g=9.8m/s2 gives 4.9m/s or 18km/hr.
Would need to be faster than that to maintain grip at the top of the loop.
Re: "Inside Britain's biggest sewer under London's River Thames"
Actually it's a bit more - around 5.4 m/s (~19.5 kph), since the radius is 3.5 m rather than 2.5. The problem would be accelerating to that speed in the space available, but assuming you could do it the effect on the body could be interesting since your head would experience a smaller radial acceleration than your legs and feet, so that there'd be less oxygen keeping your brain awake. Could be you'd be unconscious and unaware of the eventual crash to the floor when you stop pedalling. You'd be better off on a recumbent.
Maybe Colin Furz could be persuaded try it.
Maybe Colin Furz could be persuaded try it.
Have we got time for another cuppa?
Re: "Inside Britain's biggest sewer under London's River Thames"
Wouldn't the contents of the sewer reduce the coefficient of friction somewhat? May need to be putting out far greater power than expected to get up to speed.
A novice learning...
“the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”
“the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”
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Re: "Inside Britain's biggest sewer under London's River Thames"
Many years ago I watched a brilliant documentary about Sir Joseph Bazalgette...fascinating stuff. Some years later I interrupted a romantic walk along London's embankment with my wife, and started rattling on about the huge sewer under our feet, and the genius who built it. Without pause she asked 'Do you mean him?'..unbeknownst to me we had stopped at the exact spot of the Bazalgette monument.
Perfect timing, although my enthusiasm for a Victorian poo maestro took the edge off the romance somewhat...
Perfect timing, although my enthusiasm for a Victorian poo maestro took the edge off the romance somewhat...