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How fast does a fly have to fly into a speeding locomotive to stop it?

PICK3

New member
In Physics 101 I didn't know the answer so I wrote down "awful fucking fast".

Of course an inelastic collision is determined by:

m1v1=m2v2

m1=mass of fly
v1=velocity of fly

m2=mass of train
v2=velocity of train
 
Need specifics to answer. I.e., mass of each object and velocity of train. Also, does friction on the train apply or is this a frictionless environment.
 
Beachbum1546 said:
Need specifics to answer. I.e., mass of each object and velocity of train. Also, does friction on the train apply or is this a frictionless environment.

Yeah ... 3 of the 4 unknowns were provided.
 
Beachbum1546 said:
What were they?!! What the hell, do you want us to answer the question?


Nah ... I think everyone who graduated form a public high school can cross multiply and solve for an equation with 3 out of 4 variables given.
 
redguru said:
Is this collision in opposing directions or are there vectors involved?

Aren't vectors always involved when you're talking about magnitude and direction?
 
Mass of a housefly is approximately .000012 kg, Mass of a locomotive engin is roughly 100 Metric tons or 100,000 kg

Assume a slow velocity of the train lets say 1 m/sec

v1= (100,000 kg-m/sec)/.000012 kg
v1 is faster than the speed of light, so the housefly can't stop a train.
 
PICK3 said:
Aren't vectors always involved when you're talking about magnitude and direction?

Yes, but vector math is unnecessary if the forces are in directly opposing or incident directions.
 
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