The puzzle is as follows:
We present you below this riddle. A certain mechanism opens a gate of a maximum security lab. It just happens that a glass lets you see the mechanism and you know the password to enter is related with the number of turns given by the small wheel.
The condition is that the password is the minimum number of turns that the wheel with the smallest radius must make, so that points $A$ and $B$ (where the opening latches are located) are in contact for the second time. Using this information, find the password.
The alternatives given are:
- 11.25
- 11
- 13.5
- 6.25
Is there a gentle way to solve this without much fuss? (note that the word takes inspiration from this source)
My issue is that I was only able to figure out that the number of turns the smaller wheel makes will be less than the larger.
Note that although not specifically mentioned in the problem, I'm assuming that the points' positions are with respect to the center.
The labels are as follows:
$b$: Turns given by the bigger wheel
$s$: turns given by smaller wheel.
Then:
$s=\frac{18}{10}b$
Thus the smaller wheel will get more turns than the bigger one. This makes sense. But I don't know how to relate this with the given positions in the graph.
I can't say that both will cover the same angle as that's not the case. But they will attain the same length.
But here I'm stuck. Is my logic correct? It would help me a lot if answers could explain step-by-step the necessary details so I will not be confused about matching points.
I have already attempted a few methods but could not find a logical answer.
This puzzle is from my Logic and Challenges book from 2000's and from the looks of it seems to be an adaptation from a reprinted copy of Martin Gardner's 1950's book on Puzzles.