Explain how a steering wheel rotates with respect to couple.
Explain how a steering wheel rotates with respect to couple.
The forces applied to turn a steering wheel are often a couple. Each hand grips the wheel at points on opposite sides of the shaft. When they apply a force that is equal in magnitude yet opposite in direction the wheel rotates. If both hands applied a force in the same direction, the sum of the moments created by each force would be equal to zero and the wheel would not rotate. Instead of rotating around the shaft, the shaft would be loaded with a force tending to cause a translation with a magnitude of twice the value of force. If the forces applied by the two hands were unequal, there would again be an unbalanced force creating a translation of the "system." A pure couple consists of two equal and opposite forces whose lines of action do not coincide.
The forces applied to turn a steering wheel are often a couple. Each hand grips the wheel at points on opposite sides of the shaft. When they apply a force that is equal in magnitude yet opposite in direction the wheel rotates. If both hands applied a force in the same direction, the sum of the moments created by each force would be equal to zero and the wheel would not rotate. Instead of rotating around the shaft, the shaft would be loaded with a force tending to cause a translation with a magnitude of twice the value of force. If the forces applied by the two hands were unequal, there would again be an unbalanced force creating a translation of the "system." A pure couple consists of two equal and opposite forces whose lines of action do not coincide.
