How come there are mosquitos in a moving bus? Won't they hit the back of the bus?

Question

Does that mean that they are flying as fast or faster that the bus?

Answer 1

When a bus is moving, so is the air column trapped in the bus. Hence a mosquitoe hovering inside the bus is moving along with the air column at the speed of the bus. This similar to you moving along with the bus. If you jump vertically for a short period and at that time the velocity of the bus has not changed, you'll land at the same position. But if the bus accelerates after u have jumped, you'll be landing a little behind. whatever speed the bus travels becomes your initial velocity. hence whether you jump or not, you'll continue to move with the same velocity in the same direction (horizontal velocity doesn't change if air resistance is neglected).. unless u are affected by some other external force..

In the case of a mosquitoe, even if the bus accelerates, the air column will also be accelerated as it is trapped within the confines of the bus. Since air is the medium the mosquitoe is hovering in, it will also accelerate accordingly. Note: All the above talks abt acceleration are with respect to an observer on ground.

Answer 2

Because everything inside the bus is moving at the same speed as the bus. The other guy is right, it has to do with the Theory of Relativity.

To you, in the bus, the mosquito is buzzing around like normal. To the people outside the bus looking in, see the mosquito moving with the bus at 25 miles per hour.

If the mosquito was within a fixed point in space that was independent of everything around it, it would indeed fly to the back, but the mosquito, and the air that its flying through are all traveling at the same speed as the bus.

Answer 3

The mosquitos are flying in the air within the bus, the air within the bus is travelling at the same speed as the bus.

If the bus driver were to remove the front and back windows of the bus:-
1. You'd suddenly find it very windy.
2. No more mosquitos (apart from those that would have been splatted against the windscreen).

Answer 4

The air that they are flying around in is also trapped in the bus and moving at the same speed as the bus. If you ripped the top off the bus, the mosquitoes would quickly be left behind.

Answer 5

No that mean that they started flying from the inside of the bus and they were already at the speed of the moving bus... as well as you can jump inside of the bus. Hope you can put a mosquito on orbit with this info.

Answer 6

I think all the above ans are wrong because 1) if we are sitting or standing we are in direct touch with the bus , and with sudden brakes we tend to fall forward. and Mosquito ? it will not.
2) if the air is going along with the bus what if some windows are shut and opened. does not the speed of the air increase and decrease? 3) what if only back window is opened?

Answer 7

I have seen mosquitos hitting the back of the bus.

Answer 8

Everything inside the bus is moving along with it, including the air. If the bus had a convertible top this would be different.

Answer 9

i second what curmudgeon said jus now. the mosq and you are travelling with the speed of the bus, hence dont hit the back of the bus. if a mosq enters the bus parpenicularly frm outside, it will as it does not acquire the velocity of the bus.

Good question though,

Answer 10

You must be a genius. This is how Einstein came upon relativity. He was pouring tea in a moving train and wanted to know why the tea didn't flow to the back of the car rather than falling into his cup.