How Wheels Really Work | Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains...

What part of a moving train is going backward while the train is going forwards? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice explore the physics of wheels and how they move us.

Did you know that when you’re driving there is a part of your car that’s going 0 mph? Find out the physics that’s happening in your wheels. What part of the car is going twice the speed? Learn how the wheels of trains and different wheel shapes. Is there only one usable shape for a wheel?

Video Credits:
Rolling motion animation | Radium

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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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00:00 - Interesting Things About Wheels
02:00 - Parts of the Wheel
05:18 - Train on the Rails
10:05 - Triangle Wheels

[michaelprohr]

My high school physics teacher told us a story about how he got a speeding ticket. Then he went into a hypothetical scenario where he would try the excuse that the bottom of the wheel was travel at 0mph. He finished it with the police officer knowing physics too and that the top of the wheel is moving double the speed and he should write a ticket for that speed. Then they would agree to split the difference on his ticket. 😆 That was back in 2001, and I still remember that story from time to time.

[mattevans-koch]

Now that was a very moving episode. Thank you Dr. Tyson and Lord Nice.

[jmmwangi]

I'm with Chuck on this one. Mind blown. Thanks

[shawnsimmons]

Neil has once again made something that is taken for granted and is almost entirely overlooked as an extremely interesting nugget of scientific awesomeness. Thank you!!❤❤❤

[reportedstolen]

Chuck lighting the one hitter is wild!!😂 I love y’all

[scooby]

How people don't love physics, I will never know..

[andreask.]

On the flanges of train wheels (from Wikipedia): "The running surface of most is conical, serving as the primary means of keeping the train's motion aligned with the track..." The physics and maths behind train wheels is much more interesting than meets the eye! 😍

[crazycherokee]

Chuck puffed a one-hitter on camera, this is why I watch these videos every day 😂💨
As an automotive engineer I already knew the answer, but I was waiting on chucks reaction to the physics behind it and, as always, his reaction was priceless 🤣 puff puff pass, Mr. Nice 👌

[DyreStraits]

What is not being said here is the "part of the car that is always going zero" is actually a point on the edge of the tire which is constantly changing. So try to find that part that is infinitely small and only going zero for an infinitely small period of time.

[furuknap]

"Excuse me sir, do you know how fast you were driving?"
"Yes, officer, at least one part of my vehicle was below the speed limit. Are we done here?"

[Bassotronics]

Just like the tank or crane treads. They blow my mind! Because the top part is moving very fast while the bottom part not even moving relative to the floor. 🤯

[sandeebrooke]

I love the way Chuck reacts to understanding what Neil is talking about 😊❤

[pablozuma]

This one was hilarious...
😂😂😂😂
Thank you so much, for the fun and for the knowledge. Cheers!!

[MH-woeb]

I love this! I learned it in high school physics and share it anytime an opportunity arises. You two rock!!

[JustMe-vkfn]

This is what a good general education should be all about. Having fun and getting smarter at the same time.

[Tripskiii]

seeing chuck learn how to think is awesome!

[williamgilpin]

Thank you for inviting us to share in your thoughts always a pleasure listening to your conversations. 😊

[vansdan.]

shows how honest neil is that he doesnt even know the view count of his most viewed video 😅

[stevenappel]

I was really waiting for him to use tank tracks as a reference. They give the absolute best representation of what he's describing.

[scottdebruyn]

My college physics course when taking electronics, gave me an interesting insight into going around a corner, going up or down a hill, accelerating or braking on icy roads in a vehicle. With your point that the contact point has zero velocity, you could have quite the discussion about dynamic versus static coefficients of friction! Especially with regard to those people that 'gun it' to go up a hill, get stuck, and marvel at the long time Canadian winter driver that just drives on by right up the hill! 😁