The Wheels on the Train Go Round and Round… (2024)

How do trains not slide off the tracks?

The Wheels on the Train Go Round and Round… (1)

Train wheels are often overlooked as an amazing modern invention. Unlike the wheels on cars and other vehicles, train wheels have to keep the train on the tracks, and they have to go around corners without a steering wheel. Seems impossible but thanks to geometry and physics, it is possible.

The Wheels on the Train Go Round and Round… (2)

To begin with, wheels are attached to an axle (a metal rod). This is called a wheelset. Wheelsets are designed to that both wheels rotate at the same speed. This works great when a train is on a straight track. Unfortunately, trains must go around things, like mountains, and this means the train tracks are not always straight.

Now for the geometry and physics part…

The outside of a curve is slightly longer than the inside of a curve so the wheel on the outside curve must cover more ground as the inside wheel needs to cover less track while the outside wheel catches up – all while turning the same speed.

The Wheels on the Train Go Round and Round… (3)

car and it goes around a corner really fast. To keep the train from going off the tracks, the flange (highlighted in the first image) hits the T-shaped railway track and the wheel is pushed onto the wider part of the wheel. Now that that wheel is on the wider part of the wheel, it is covering more distance as it turns.

This is why the train wheels are coned and not flat. As the train begins to corner, centrifugal force pushes the train towards the outside rail. This is the same force you feel when you are in a

Because the train tracks are always the exact same width, the inside wheel now moves into position where a smaller diameter of wheel is hitting the track and is; therefore, covering less distance as it turns. The wheels are not turning at faster and slower speeds, the shape of the wheel is determining how far the wheel travels. This is happening at the same time that centrifugal force and the wheel’s flange is keeping the train from slipping off the track.

So next time you see a train rounding the corner, say to the person next to you “Wow! That centrifugal force, wheel diameter, and flanges are really doing a good job” and then tell them you have studied physics.

The exact opposite thing happens when the curve of the track goes the other way.

The Wheels on the Train Go Round and Round… (4)

The Wheels on the Train Go Round and Round… (2024)

FAQs

Is The Wheels On The Bus a nursery rhyme? ›

Nursery rhymes are a fun way for your baby to learn new words. Try singing The Wheels on the Bus and use actions to show your baby what different words mean, like 'wheels' for the bus and 'beep' for the horn.

Does "wheels on the bus" have a dark meaning? ›

Some nursery rhymes have darker meanings to them, such as Ring A Ring A Rosie's ties to The Great Plague, but The Wheels On The Bus does not. It was simply made to entertain children on long bus rides.

What does The Wheels On The Bus teach? ›

Wheels on the Bus can help with your child's development and coordination, especially movements which cross from one side of the body to the other. As your child grows and develops, they will be able to do more movements and actions.

Why do children like wheels on the bus? ›

Children often love the "Wheels on the Bus" song for several reasons: Repetition: The song features repetitive lyrics and actions, which are soothing and predictable for young children. Repetition is comforting and helps with memory.

What is the answer to the wheels on the bus? ›

The wheels on the bus go chat, chat, chat. The wipers on the bus go round and round. The people on the bus go waa, waa, waa. The horn on the bus go swish, swish, swish.

What is the oldest nursery rhyme? ›

Ding Dong Bell is the oldest recorded nursery rhyme in the English language. In the earliest version of this rhyme, recorded in 1580 by John Lange, the organist of Winchester Cathedral, the unfortunate cat does not make it out of the well, and the bells are a death knell.

Is The Wheels On The Bus the same melody? ›

It is an American folk song which was originally written and composed by Verna Hills. The original song was called “The Bus” and each verse ended with the words “all day long” instead of the modern-day lyrics that go “all through the town”. It is sung on the classic tune of Merry Go Round The Mulburry Bush.

What is the ending of The Wheels On The Bus? ›

While the rhyme nowadays finishes each verse with “all through the town”, the original version of Wheels On The Bus instead used “over the city streets”. Other variation of the ending line in the nursery rhyme, The Wheels On The Bus exist including the line,"all day long".

Are nursery rhymes dark? ›

Nursery rhymes have been a part of our childhood for generations, but did you know that many of these innocent-sounding rhymes have dark and twisted origins? From plagues to execution, these rhymes were not always meant to be sung to children.

What grade is Wheels on the Bus? ›

Trivia. Each song on K-12 represents a different grade level in school, from Kindergarten through twelfth grade. "Wheels on the Bus" represents kindergarten.

What does don't let the pigeon drive the bus teach? ›

Mo Willems' Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus raises numerous philosophical issues, ranging from moral responsibility and blame, persuasion, and even punishment. One key option that readers of the story have is whether or not to encourage the kids to respond to the pigeon as he demands permission to drive the bus.

Could my 2 year old be autistic? ›

Autism: early signs in young children. Early signs of autism include atypical social and communication behaviour, repetitive behaviour or movements, and special interests. Early signs of autism usually appear in the first 1-2 years of life. Some children have many early signs of autism, whereas others have only a few.

What age can kids do wheels on the bus? ›

A fun activity for your toddler

The well-known song "The Wheels on the Bus" includes just these elements, plus lots of opportunity for hand motions and social interaction – the perfect combination for your little explorer. Good for age: 17 months (but older and younger kids might enjoy it, too!)

What is considered a nursery rhyme? ›

Nursery rhymes are short verses and songs for children. Many nursery rhymes tell a quick story in just a few lines. Their clever use of language makes them easy to remember. Nursery rhymes are entertaining for children to hear.

What does the wheels came off the bus mean? ›

idiom. informal. used to say that someone or something fails in a sudden or unexpected way.

Is it wheels on the bus or wheels of the bus? ›

"The Wheels on the Bus" is an American folk song written by Verna Hills (1898–1990).

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