Chapter 8, Problem 29A

When you ride a bicycle at full speed and the bike stops suddenly, why do you have to push hard on the handlebars to keep from flying forward?

To determine

To explain: The reason for pushing hard the handlebars to avoid from flying forward while riding a bicycle at full speed.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

When a person going uphill, he will feel that cycling is harder. So, more force will be exerted on the pedaland thus, work is done against the gravitational force.

A person is riding a bicycle at full speed and then stops suddenly, by pressing hard the handlebars. This will allows all the inertia to push against the handlebars.

When a person is travelling at full speed, body is accustomed to that speed. So, if stopped suddenly, then body will not be prepared for the drastic change that would occur in speed. Since a body still have a tendency to move at same speed,so a person will fall from the bicycle in the forward direction.

Conclusion:

Therefore, pushing hard on handlebars, will handle the inertia thus avoiding from flying forward.