Christchurch Hill Juggernaut

Winetavern Street is a hill that leads from the Liffey to Christchurch Cathedral. It is a wonderful street. My drawing, which is located there, does not do it justice.

The drawing was made to thank a colleague for his friendship and was inspired by him. My friend, on more than one occasion, had described how it felt as he tried to make progress or get things done. It was a shared feeling—perhaps by most or all of those who were present. I suspect it is a very common feeling wherever humans work with one another within a system created by humans. Some of us are more patient than others and some are more impatient. I once drove a Honda 50 and I empathized entirely with my friend in pulling the juggernaut up the hill.

Christchurch Hill Juggernaut (untinted)

I drew the diagram in my sketch pad, scanned it, tinted it somewhat on my computer and sent it to my friend as an e-mail attachment. He appreciated it. Having spoken about deep feelings, the nerd within would now like to say a few words…

I have drawn a physical impossibility. The maximum force that can be applied upwards along the plane of the road surface is what engineers call ‘the normal reaction multiplied by the coefficient of friction.’ As sketched, the normal reaction would not be sufficient and there are other issues too. However, engineers solve problems; many other arrangements are possible whereby the Honda 50 could pull the juggernaut up the hill. There is hope, after all!