A bee is flying towards a road. Just as it crosses the road, a bus comes by at 50mph, and the bee splatters on the windshield.
However, another bee is flying towards the same road. Just as it is crossing the road the same bus passes by at 50mph. The bee flies into an open window on the bus.
What happens next - does the bee remain at the position it was in when it flew into the bus, and the bus continues moving, and the bee splatter against the back of the bus, or does something else happen?
Explain your answer.
2007-02-12
04:21:14
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8 answers
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asked by
piperjoe68
3
in
Science & Mathematics
➔ Physics
As the bee enters the bus, it also enters the air in the bus moving along at the same speed.
The bee, being so light, is unharmed (other than 'jiggled' around in the air movement from the open window), and joins the people going happily on their way.
(Until one of them swats it)
2007-02-12 04:29:46
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answer #1
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answered by Norrie 7
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If you mean to ask what would happen to the bee neglecting wind, drafts and what not, it would stay on its original path - the bee is not in contact with the bus and thus is not part of the bus as a "closed system" - its not the same thing as an observer watching a ball bounce on a moving bus where the outside observer sees and arch and an inside observer sees only vertical motion. A ball thrown through a bus, would behave like the above bee because the ball's weight is high enough to disregard wind and air factors like has been done for the bee in this case.
If you mean to account for wind and drafts and whatnot - the result of the fact that the air inside the bus is part of the a non-closed system. Its moving with the bus, but it interacting with the outside air that is not moving with the bus - that's where the wind and the breeze comes from. In this case, the bee passes the window barrier and feels a draft from the direction of the buses motion, adjusts and continue to fly as a new member of the air interaction 'system' ie - too windy to fly. It would probably adjust to the wind by landing as soon as it could - just like real insects do in similar situations because they typically can't handle that kind of wind.
THEN it would become part of the moving bus as a closed system with respect to the solid matter in the bus. It would still be shaken by the wind until someone closed the window.
THEN is would be part of a completely closed system and could fly at 55 mph respective to the ground and 5 mph respective to the bus toward the front of the bus to sting the driver for taking her on a bus ride she didn't want.
2007-02-12 06:48:51
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answer #2
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answered by Justin 5
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If the bee is lucky enough not to be crushed on the side of the window as it enters, once inside, past the window its velocity will become the same as the bus and all its contains.
The velocity of everything within a moving system (bus in this case) is the same (inertia).
When the bee is flying in is the most dangerous time for the bee, but once inside its ok!
Edit: I gave Justin down here the thumb up he deserves!His answer is accurate AND funny!
:)
2007-02-12 06:46:40
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answer #3
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answered by Yahoo! 5
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The second bee will continue to fly until either of the following happens.
Either it passes thru another open window on the opposite side of the bus, it hits the opposite side of the bus in between two windows (or a closed window), or the back of the bus hits the bee.
The flight of the bee is independent of the motion of the bus. There really isn't enough info to try and glean more accurate possibilities with this scenario. The bee travels at 50 mph, the bus trasvels at 50 mph. How long is the bus? What window did the bee pass thru? What's the width of the bus?
2007-02-12 04:31:50
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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the bee should splatter at the back of the bus because the bus is still going 50. just because its inside the bus doesn't mean it suddenly becomes one with the bus. another example would be....if you are sitting on a bus, and the bus is going 50, toss a ball into the air and the ball should fall on ur lap because you AND THAT BALL were both going 50 as well along with the bus. The bee however, was going at its own speed, and not the bus's speed.
2007-02-12 04:27:38
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answer #5
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answered by 01winged 2
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Ideally, yes, but the bee is so light and subject to wind drag, that he'll get spun around by the air currents jetting into the open window of the bus. He'll make a quick adjustment and be just fine, although a bit disoriented.
2007-02-12 04:28:16
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answer #6
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answered by squirespeaks 2
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Do you think that the bee will remain at the same static point as the bus come around?
2007-02-12 04:24:27
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answer #7
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answered by Slay Specialist 3
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This is an inertia question. The bee and the bus have separate inertia and will continue to move independent of each other unless they come in contact with one another (or with another object that is inertially dependent like that punk in the back sneaking cigarettes).
2007-02-12 04:43:29
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answer #8
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answered by gebobs 6
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