STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Consider a common bi-fold door. Such a door is pictured in cross section below, in both closed and partially opened position.

Both panels of the door are 50 cm wide. One edge of the door is fixed and pivots as the door opens. The other edge of the door is connected to a pin which slides along a track toward the fixed pivot as the door open.

1. Describe the path of the sliding pin as the door moves from a closed to a fully open position.

2. Describe the path of a point on the hinge as the door moves from a closed to a fully open position.

3. Describe the path of the midpoint of panel A as the door moves from a closed to a fully open position.

4. Describe the path of the midpoint of panel B as the door moves from a closed to a fully open position.

5. Consider all points on panel A. Make a generalization concerning the path of all such points.

6. Consider all points on panel B. Make a generalization concerning the path of all such points.

7. Consider the hinge and the sliding pin as points on panel B. Explain their motion in terms of your answer to problem 6.