Spinning Your Wheels

Author:: Dustin Warren

Press the animate button to make the bike move. You can adjust the speed with the black slider or manually make the bikes wheels turn with the blue slider. If you select the blue slider, you can turn the wheels by using the left and right arrow keys. Zoom in and out or drag the screen to follow the bike as it moves.

Set the front wheel circumference to 84cm and the rear wheel circumference to 35cm. Animate the bike. How far does the bike travel before point P is touching the ground again? How far before point Q is touching the ground?

How far will the bike travel before both P and Q are touching the ground at the same time again? How many revolutions will the front and rear wheels have turned?

Mark all that are true.

Select all that apply

A
Point P and Q will touch the ground at the same time once the bike has traveled a distance equal to the LCM of the front and rear wheel circumference.
B
Point P and Q will touch the ground at the same time once the bike has traveled a distance equal to the GCF of the front and rear wheel circumference.
C
The front wheel went through more revolutions because it is larger.
D
The rear wheel went through more revolutions because it is smaller.

Check my answer (3)

Randomize the size of the wheels and answer the questions below.

What are the circumferences of your front and rear wheels?

How far will your bike have to travel before points P and Q are touching the ground at the same time? How many rotations did the front and rear wheel turn?

Spinning Your Wheels

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