Physics Question involving bicycle pedal Torque?

H

heather

New member
The crank arm of a bicycle pedal is 16.5 cm long. If a person weighing 53 kg puts all of their weight on one pedal, how much torque is developed if a) the crank is horizontal ( on an x & y plane angle 90 degrees) b) if the crank is almost vertical ( angle 15 degrees from y axis)
 
To find torque, multiply the force applied by the distance from center to position of application. Only take the component of the force which is perpendicular to this distance.

Crank length: L
Weight: m*g


A) tau = L*m*g

using m:=53kg; L:=0.165m; g:=9.8N/kg;

tau = 85.701 Newton*meters

B) tau = L*m*g*sin(theta)

using m:=53kg; L:=0.165m; g:=9.8N/kg; theta:=15 deg;

tau = 22.181 Newton*meters
 
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