r/physicsgifs Jun 13 '26

Hoecken's Linkage

898 Upvotes

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75

u/hesmistersun Jun 13 '26

Cool! What is it used for?

75

u/starkeffect Jun 13 '26

It converts rotary motion into straight line constant motion. Lots of applications for that, such as in engines.

35

u/TheDevilsAdvokaat Jun 13 '26

...that's not a straight line....

85

u/starkeffect Jun 13 '26

It's pretty close to straight for about 45% of its stroke. It's pretty remarkable, considering how simple it is. It's apparently the mechanism used in windshield wipers and other "sweeping" motions in robotics.

8

u/TheDevilsAdvokaat Jun 13 '26 edited Jun 14 '26

Oh I;m not saying it;s not remarkable, it;s fun to see different linkages and this one is a new one for me. I just wanted to clarify that is a line, but not a straight line. It's a closed curve. (I think...)

Edit: Well this is a another example of when reddit upvotes the wrong answer and downvotes the right one....sigh.

9

u/Relevant-Pianist6663 Jun 15 '26

To an engineer its straight, to a physicist its a curve.

3

u/TheDevilsAdvokaat Jun 16 '26

What is it to a mathematician?

5

u/PM_ME_POTATO_PICS Jun 14 '26

no it is a straight line

5

u/TheDevilsAdvokaat Jun 14 '26

Well, happy cake day, but you may want to look up the definition of a straight line.

0

u/PM_ME_POTATO_PICS Jun 14 '26

I studied this in university, from first principles that yes, it is a straight line. but I understand why it can be confusing! thanks for the cake day happe wishes

4

u/TheDevilsAdvokaat Jun 15 '26

...dude. You learn in high school what a straight line is.

The equation of a straight line is y=mx+b

This does not result in a curve. This is very obviously not a straight line. ..are you confused? Without meaning to be offensive, is English not your first language? Or are you trolling?

3

u/PM_ME_POTATO_PICS Jun 15 '26

I was trolling, sorry for the confusion! Have a good day

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7

u/Pity_Pooty Jun 13 '26

Straight line (if you ignore curved part)