Machines & Inventions

Why does a shopping trolley have wheels that swivel?

Because swivelling wheels let a trolley change direction without ever dragging sideways. A trolley gets pushed from all sorts of angles and often has to squeeze through tight aisles. Swivel wheels, also called casters, spin freely around a vertical pivot, so each wheel simply lines up with wherever it's being pushed.

Illustration of a shopping trolley have wheels that swivel for the question "Why does a shopping trolley have wheels that swivel?"
Public mode