ASK TERRI #9: Steering Size Matters
Posted by Arnprior on May 26, 2009 in Blog • No comments
From Mr. Rowan, in Ireland:
Why is it that buses have bigger steering wheels than cars? yes it is a bigger vehicle, but WHY?! i want specifics please!
That’s a VERY good question!
For a wheel to have value in moving loads there must be some mechanical advantage. In the case of a wheel and axle the ratio of force (F) to load (L) is related to the ratio of the radius of the wheel ® and that of the axle ®. In words the mechanical advantage law is that “the force applied multiplied by the radius of the wheel equals the load multiplied by the radius of the axle”. This can be reduced to F × R = L × r or L/F = R/r. What this means very simply is that the larger the wheel relative to the axle the larger the load that can be moved for a given effort. Hence trucks and buses have bigger wheels than cars!
Now, applying the same principle to the steering wheel, the larger the wheel, the less force it takes to turn it, thus turning the wheels themselves…
Its all very complex, but the more aptly phrased question should be: Why are car steering wheels SMALLER then buses?…. and the simple answer:
COSMETIC.
Its just more appealing to have more ROOM between you and the steering wheel, or, in actuality, it very well MIGHT be the same size as a bus. Corse, then it comes down to seat, vehicle style… cubic square passenger room, and all sorts of things.
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