Henry Ernest Dudeney/Modern Puzzles/210 - A Famous Paradox/Solution

Modern Puzzles by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $210$

A Famous Paradox

When a bicycle is in motion, does the upper part of each wheel move faster than the bottom part near the ground?

Solution

Obviously. Du-uh.

Proof

The part of the wheel that is in contact with the ground moves at the same speed relative to the ground that the ground does.

The conclusion follows in all its bletheringly obvious glory.

$\blacksquare$

How this can be considered "paradoxical" completely confounds me.

Sources

• 1926: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Modern Puzzles ... (previous) ... (next): Solutions: $210$. -- A Famous Paradox
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Answers: $294$. A Famous Paradox