Re: Petential Energy doing Work

On 6/28/2024 9:43 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Sat, 29 Jun 2024 00:16:02 GMT, Tom Kunich <cyclintom@yahoo.com>
wrote:

...dropping the CG in a turn increases the power of the moving body.

 Gosh.  That's truly amazing.  All I need to do is lay down on the
ground, which drops my center of mass to ground level, and I get a
free increase in "power".

Who among us has not felt their bicycle accelerate briskly the instant they change from standing tall on the pedals to sitting on the seat? The drop in potential energy immediately converts to kinetic energy!
Heck, it's the easiest way to make a quick start across an intersection. Don't even pedal! Just stand up while doing a track stand at a red light. The instant the light turns green, sit down. Your bike will zoom off the line even without pedaling!
(That's a joke, Tom. But feel free to try it.)
--
- Frank Krygowski