A student is trying to reduce the mass of a racing bike to achieve greater acceleration. Which would be more beneficial to reduce (assuming each has identical mass)?
Decrease mass in the frame
Decrease mass in the wheels
Decrease mass in the rider
These are all equal
Decreasing mass in the wheels would be the most beneficial in terms of achieving greater acceleration. This is because the rotational inertia of the wheels plays a significant role in how quickly the bike can accelerate. By reducing the mass in the wheels, the rotational inertia is decreased, allowing for faster acceleration.
While decreasing mass in the frame and the rider could also contribute to overall weight reduction and potentially improve acceleration, the effect would be less significant compared to reducing mass in the wheels. The frame of a racing bike typically has less mass compared to the wheels, and the rider's mass is relatively small compared to the combined mass of the bike and the rider.