Date of Submission

Spring 2024

Academic Program

Physics

Project Advisor 1

Paul Cadden-Zimansky

Abstract/Artist's Statement

This thesis is an exploration into the physical mechanism responsible for the acceleration experienced when pumping a ramp on a bicycle, skateboard, or related human-powered vehicle. Pumping is the technique by which one propels oneself on a ramp, which is very similar to the process of pumping a playground swing. It is my hypothesis that the acceleration one experiences when pumping a ramp is primarily due to the conservation of angular momentum, affected by altering ones moment of inertia relative to the focal point of the curve through which one is traveling. This report documents my attempt to accurately describe the process mathematically, experimentally verify my predictions, analyze, and synthesize the results.

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Creative Commons License

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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