Physics Lesson

[HoosierGiant]

So, I'm minding my own business, toiling away at household labor this afternoon when the small girl-child saunters into the kitchen and announces, "A bike turns 90% of your energy into movement, so it's the most efficient transportation in the world." Which, of course, led to the following three questions flitting through my brain in rapid succession: a) How does she know that? b) Why doesn't my 90% equate to the kind of average speed I'd like to see?, and c) What the heck am I doing standing here with my hands in the dishwater when I could be out touring the countryside?

Answers: a) Information courtesy of Can You Feel the Force? , an elementary physics book by DK Publishing. b) Guess I'm too old for that. c) Rainy weather and 18mph winds gusting to 31mph not conducive to riding.

Also of interest, the book went on to note that, "A car converts only 25 percent of its energy into movement energy, and most of that is used shifting its own huge weight. In fact, the energy you use to cycle 0.6 miles (1km) would shift a car only 66 feet (20 m)."

So... Congrats and happy cycling to all of you beautifully efficient machines!!

[Zen]

I love this!
How old is this child? Elementary physics? Does that mean elementary school or basic physics?

I need to find a way to get this information out to the general public. Maybe they'd give us a little more respect. Yeah, right.

[HoosierGiant]

She's 9, and that's "elementary" as in designed for children who have mastered the whole shoe-tying thing but still have issues with the giant snaps on jeans.

[Zen]

Nine.
I'm not sure I even understood the concept of percentages at nine.

I bet that little factoid stays with her for her entire life.

[RoadRaven]

Fantastic post

[Jenn]

Ahhh, not only the education, but the parent, you are raising a FANTASTIC child!! That is amazing!!!
I cannot wait til our 16 month old can start teaching ME!!!! Well, she already is, just not in the "intelectual" sense yet.
After getting over the amazement of a 9 year old knowing that information, I am shocked and amazed!!
Thank you!!

[bikerHen]

Also of interest, the book went on to note that, "A car converts only 25 percent of its energy into movement energy, and most of that is used shifting its own huge weight.

Well that explains where a large percentage of my energy is going! bikerhen

[Bad JuJu]

[FONT="Arial"][SIZE="3"]the small girl-child saunters into the kitchen

Pretty cool also that she's already "sauntering." What a force she's going to be as she grows up!

BTW, that "shifting its own huge weight" bit had me a bit worried too *shifting my own huge weight from one side of the desk chair to the other*

[HoosierGiant]

Pretty cool also that she's already "sauntering." What a force she's going to be as she grows up!

She saunters, swaggers, sashays, slithers, and any other type of locomotion imaginable. (Our all-time favorite was the time she waddled by with blue latex gloves on her feet and chortled, "Look, Mama, I'm a blue-footed booby!" Kids -- gotta love 'em!)

Here's the horrifying part of it all though -- she still has not mastered the fine art of riding sans training wheels. ACK! Tips, anyone?

[mimitabby]

she'll learn when she's ready. I learned when I was 9 and I think Knot's son was even older. REALLY older.

how I learned:
my father showed up with a brand new big bike for me. It didn't have training wheels.
He rode it in a circle and he said "you do it" and I got on and rode it.
It was so wonderful, like flying. Before that day I was afraid to try and very resistant.

good luck

[Geonz]

There are also bikes designed to teach the balance without the training wheels http://www.pedobike.com/ tho' it looks like they are designed for smaller fry.

[amymisk]

I love this thread. I know I had no idea about the efficiency of a car vs bicyclist.

Kids are amazing! My 4 year old never stops amazing me.