if the trailer was filled with half a tonne of birds, and they were all flying, would the truck and trailer weigh 5 tonnes or 5 and a half tonnes?
2007-02-12 04:02:22 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
If this is a trick question, then the answer is 5 tonnes, otherwise the sum of the masses of the truck and trailer including the birds whether flying or not would be at least 5 and a half tonnes. This is because the birds exert a force equal to their weight on the trailer floor in order to maintain level flight. Should the birds be gaining altitude within the trailer they will be exerting a greater force on the floor of the trailer and as such its weight would increase.
2007-02-12 07:41:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
How do you get half a ton of birds to fly all at the same time? The same problem exists in a falling lift. If you were to jump in the air at the moment the lift hit the basement would you be hurt? For the purposes of your problem the truck and trailer and half a ton of birds weighs five and a half tons whether or not the birds were flying.
2007-02-12 04:14:06 · answer #2 · answered by BARROWMAN 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The birds are flying in a volume of air the weight of which is negligible. However, the weight of birds plus the air is a ½ tonne.
The truck's weight is therefore 5½ tonne.
2007-02-12 04:54:34 · answer #3 · answered by Norrie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The truck and trailer would weigh 5 tonnes, as the birds do not touch the trailer.
See, if a bird fluttered above the scales, the scales would not show any weight.
2007-02-12 04:07:12 · answer #4 · answered by M 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Technically, the weight would vary around 5 and a half tonnes. The birds only fly as they exert downward pressure, this pressure has to be greater than or equal to the bird's weight to keep it in the air. The weight would vary, as wing flaps would not all be at the same time, and therefore the pressure would not remain constant.
2007-02-12 04:58:16 · answer #5 · answered by Ant 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
5 and one-half.
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The reaction of the FLYING birds would be exerted on the truck and would affect the weight. The half ton of birds put a half a ton of thrust on the truck in order to keep airborn.
2007-02-12 04:07:10 · answer #6 · answered by BRUZER 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
5 Tonnes.
2007-02-12 04:05:56 · answer #7 · answered by Slay Specialist 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
5 tonnes...the flying birds would be effectively weightless.The upthrust on their wings cancelling out the effect of gravity(weight) on them.
2007-02-12 09:15:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
5 tonnes, plus a little bit from the downward draft of the wings.
2007-02-12 04:09:53 · answer #9 · answered by Michael H 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think the downward force of the birds flying would increase the weight, by how much i dont know
2007-02-12 04:09:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋