When a car turns, why does one wheel have to turn faster?
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Pick a way to drive.
| Left wheel (blue track) | Crown wheel, inside the case | Right wheel (pink track) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
Speeds are in turns a minute and are made up. The drive shaft, half-shafts, wheels and tracks are added by this page, drawn small and close to the case. You are behind the car, so its left wheel is on your left. Each track shows how far a wheel rolls in the same 3 seconds. The case is closed: the crown wheel and the small planet pinions are inside.
Drive straight first. Compare the two tracks.