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General Knowledge for the quizzical man about town.



Doc Lynam

Doc Lynam

I hate the Daily Mail
Jun 19, 2011
7,198
Can someone answer this?

If a fly gets on a train and is flying in mid air and if the train moves away, will it be hit by the carriage it's in catching up with the space it's suspended within??
 






Goldstone1976

Goldstone1976

We Got Calde in!!
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
Apr 30, 2013
13,782
Herts
Doc Lynam said:
Can someone answer this?

If a fly gets on a train and is flying in mid air and if the train moves away, will it be hit by the carriage it's in catching up with the space it's suspended within??
Click to expand...

No. For the same reason that the earth doesn't spin away under your feet if you jump up in the air, even though it's moving at just over 1000 mph at the equator.
 




Prince Monolulu

Prince Monolulu

Everything in Moderation
Oct 2, 2013
10,201
The Race Hill
Doc Lynam said:
Can someone answer this?

If a fly gets on a train and is flying in mid air and if the train moves away, will it be hit by the carriage it's in catching up with the space it's suspended within??
Click to expand...
No. Same theory as jumping up in the air just before a free-falling lift hits the deck
 






Driver8

Driver8

On the road...
NSC Patron
Jul 31, 2005
15,975
North Wales
No because the air on the train, which the fly uses to fly, will be moving at the same speed as the train.
 


Creaky

Creaky

Well-known member
Mar 26, 2013
3,842
Hookwood - Nr Horley
No

There will be a small movement towards the rear of the carriage due to inertia but the drag from the air it is flying in, (which will move with the carriage), is far greater.
 






Doc Lynam

Doc Lynam

I hate the Daily Mail
Jun 19, 2011
7,198
Goldstone1976 said:
No. For the same reason that the earth doesn't spin away under your feet if you jump up in the air, even though it's moving at just over 1000 mph at the equator.
Click to expand...

But a fly in mid air hasn't been transferred the same energy as a person in the carriage would have!?
 


Creaky

Creaky

Well-known member
Mar 26, 2013
3,842
Hookwood - Nr Horley
Goldstone1976 said:
No. For the same reason that the earth doesn't spin away under your feet if you jump up in the air, even though it's moving at just over 1000 mph at the equator.
Click to expand...

But if the Earth stopped spinning or suddenly started spinning at twice the current speed then you would slide at an alarming speed!
 






drew

drew

Drew
Oct 3, 2006
23,044
Burgess Hill
Prince Monolulu said:
No. Same theory as jumping up in the air just before a free-falling lift hits the deck
Click to expand...

Doesn't that depend on how fast you jump? If it were possible to jump faster than the lift was falling and time it so you only jumped fractions of a second before impact, in theory, you could be alright. Apart of course from banging your head on the ceiling?
 






PILTDOWN MAN

PILTDOWN MAN

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 15, 2004
18,686
Hurst Green
relativity
 














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