3 ms·
The heavier bike will reach the terminal velocity of the lighter bike sooner than the lighter bike will. If that's not extra acceleration then I don't think you
by jstanley 7y ago
The heavier bike will reach the terminal velocity of the lighter bike sooner than the lighter bike will. If that's not extra acceleration then I don't think you're looking at the problem from a practical perspective.
Yes, acceleration due to gravity is the same, but air resistance has less effect, at all speeds, on the heavier bike. The rate at which the heavier bike gains speed is higher. It accelerates faster.
- taeric 7y agoThis is just disagreement over magnitude. And what it means to hit higher acceleration. Take my statements to be, it won't hit a meaningful higher acceleration. Not that it won't necessarily accelerate for longer. In general, you will accelerate down the hill at 9.8 m/s^2 modified by the incline. No matter how heavy the bike is. (Within the realm of realistic weights.). Yes, the points you are raising are true. But within the realm of the biker and realistic bikes, not really relevant.
- SirLuxuryYacht 7y agoThe velocity of the bike+rider is proportional to their mass. Realistically this can range over two orders of magnitude, which can be particularly relevant in a racing context.
- taeric 7y agoI'm intrigued. What are you saying here?
- jstanley 7y agoIt sounds like there could be a 100x difference between a light guy on a light bike and a heavy guy on a heavy bike. Sounds hard to believe, so I'm intrigued too :).
- quickthrower2 7y agoCould be 4x if you use mini order of magnitudes, and if you include kids and adult body builders... there’s your 4x!