The solution to wobbly suitcase woes

MOST of us will be familiar with the embarrassment of trying to wheel a suitcase through a busy airport while it falls over every few seconds.

But now mathematicians have found a solution that could save holidaymakers from having to battle with their misbehaving luggage. When the irritating rocking begins, they recommend pulling the case faster and lower to the ground.

Scientists at Paris Diderot University found that stability of the case depends how far apart the wheels are relative to the case’s height and han- dle length. Researcher Dr Sylvain Courrech du Pont said it is better to speed up rather than slow down to get the case back under control when it starts wobbling – especially with cheaper models that have less suspension.

He added: ‘To prevent the case from rocking at all, one should choose a thin case with a large wheel base. Then, put the heavy stuff close to the centre of the wheels axis. If you experience rocking, the best thing is probably to get the case as close to the ground as possible.’