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A comment on Physicist Richard Feynman explains how a train stays on the tracks.. Parent comment

Re:Physicist Richard Feynman explains how a train stays on t... by pbhj on Sunday June 28, 2009 @10:28PM (#678376)
The difference between the circumferences would have to be such that the train could round the sharpest bend on the track.

That should approximate to a maximum angular change (in direction of travel) per metre:

angle per metre = tan( 2 PI (R-r) / inner track gauge ) x 2 PI r

where R is the largest contact circumference of the wheel and r the smallest.

?

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Re:Physicist Richard Feynman explains how a train stays on t... by TrevorJ on Monday June 29, 2009 @12:43AM (#678507)
What I don't get is how the train rounds a variety of curve radii. How do they control the part of the wheel that is riding the rail precisely enough to allow the train to turn at differing angles depending on the radius of the curve?
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Re:Physicist Richard Feynman explains how a train stays on t... by TrevorJ on Monday June 29, 2009 @09:20AM (#678885)
Hmm, sorry for the double post, not sure what happened there.
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Re:Physicist Richard Feynman explains how a train stays on t... by TrevorJ on Monday June 29, 2009 @12:43AM (#678506)
What I don't get is how the train rounds a variety of curve radii. How do they control the part of the wheel that is riding the rail precisely enough to allow the train to turn at differing angles depending on the radius of the curve?
[ Parent | on HN ]