On what kind of surface would a square wheel function the same as a round wheel?

Kinda cool ... Tell me if I'm right. If you think about the way a circle rolls on a flat surface, that flat surface is effectively a bunch of squares lined up side by side. Now imagine one square that has sides of length equal to one half of the cirle all lined up next to each other. And now you have the answer. The surface is a bunch of one half circles lined up side by side, i.e. a 180 degree semi-circles lined up like upside down bowls next to each other. The length of the arc of these semicircles is equal to the length of the side of the square.

How would you do it with a triangle?

Posted by Lawrence on 2003-08-30 14:46:41