The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-16


The bicycle loop" presents a most
interesting demonstration OF great
IcIentlnc principle. which plays its
part in preventing the earth from
dropping into the sun. and the moon
from being precipltated upon the
harth no less than In keeping the
Rider and his wheel from falling TO
the ground when no hangs, head
downward, in mldair. at the top OF
the loop.
Centrifugal force Is the agent con-
eerned In this seemingly miraculous
fest, force that has many appliances
In everyday life, some OF whlch--like
the swinging Of a bucketful OF water
around the head without splitting
Ostonlsh the unlnitlated. while others
are 80 familiar that nobody stops 10
think Of them. But when applied in
the case now under consideration,
centrifugal force presents itself In a
most sensational form.
Yet thrilling though II is TO watch
the bold rider defying gravlthtlon.
like a ny on the ceiling. without any
thing except his motion to hold him
In place, the natural law that he
obeys Is extremely simple and per-
foctly certain In It's operation. II he
observes all the requirements OF that
law Il will never fail him, so that
his safety depends entirely upon him
self.
He must develop centrifugal force
great enough TO counterbalance his
weight when he is at the top Of the
circle Mathematical, knowing the
sue OF the loop. Is able to tell him
tn0Nto develop the force needed. The
force depends upon the velocity with
which he moves. He acquires that
velocity. not by pedallng. but by rid.
ing down steep slope. How high
must the starting point be? A gem
eral rule. applying TO all such cases
q that tho elevation OF the point from
which he starts must be to the eleva'
ton OF the top OF the loop In a ratio
exceeding that OF Ave 10 four
The air resistance and tho friction
must all DO carefully allowed for
and this is the business OF the engin
Ger who plans the apparatus. Accord
ingly. n the loop is twenty feet high
the starting platform must be NOR
than twenty-five feet In height, an'
the acquired velocity must exoeeI
that named above. OF course, the Loo
may be less than twenty feet In helgh
and then all the other dimension
will be proportlonately reduced.
II is probable that. In the actua
case considered. the velocity wit
which the rider arrives at the bottor
OF the slope and begins the ascent @
tho circular loop Is at least thirt
miles an hour. This velocity immedl
ately and rapidly falls OF as he com
mences the ascent OF the steepenin
curve, so that when he reaches IN
top no Is moving only fast enough I
lmpart centrifugal force exceedin
his weight Tor the effect OF gravita
tion) by a margin sufficiently large 3
insure his safety.
As the bicycle strikes the curve q
the loop and begins TO ascend. IN
wheels are pressed against the trac
with tremendous force and the ride
Is pitching forward with an energ
which only practice and trained mus
eles can enable him TO Withstand.
10 as n the weight OF half dozen me
had suddenly been thrown upon hlI
and his machine. II we estimate IN
actual weight OF bicycle and rider q
200 pounds, then II can be shown thi
their combined weight, or rather thel
pressure upon the track, owing TO Ger
trifugal force, becomes. as they begi
the ascent OF the loop, more than
thousand pounds; And this, too,
the minimum speed theoretically n
quirod to carry them around. In pral
tice this pressure may be considerabI
greater.
Here, then, would seem TO be a poll
Of special danger. The rider must
prepared for this instantaneous Il
crease OF virtual weight. He has
keep his nerves steady and his he'