Problem:help my bus is on a cliff

  • Thread starter Thread starter ratt10mm
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bus
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a hypothetical scenario involving a bus positioned on the edge of a cliff, with a focus on the physics principles that govern the movement of the bus and the implications of walking in a particular direction to maintain safety.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the concept of conservation of momentum and its relevance to the situation. There are questions regarding the stability of the bus based on its wheel configuration and the implications of walking towards or away from the cliff edge.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants offering various interpretations of the physics involved. Some suggest that walking towards the cliff edge may increase instability, while others question the significance of the movement's impact on the bus's position. There is no explicit consensus, but multiple perspectives are being considered.

Contextual Notes

There are assumptions about the bus's configuration and the implications of its weight distribution. Participants also express uncertainty about the physical setup, particularly regarding the number of wheels and their positions relative to the cliff.

ratt10mm
ok i have a problem, the bus I am on is on a cliff, with both wheels on the ground, and I am asked which way do i need to walk to so i don't die. well i know that i need to walk towards the danger side of the bus because for instance if you are on a giant skateboard and you walk on it it moves the opposite direction. howver i need my answer to be in terms of physics and formula and whatnot, what are the principals that explain this? help me if u can. thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
It's like a scale. If you want to live you'd better walk
towards the side that rests, or will rest once you get there,
on the cliff's edge rather than the one that's hanging in the
air. Then you jump off quickly (though that depends on whether
it is your bus and if so - how much it cost you ).
I hope you didn't do what you said you should !
You still there ?!
 
It's conservation of momentum, not conservation of mass...

Considering the relative difference in masses between you and the bus, I don't think the reaction from your movement would be really significant...
 
are https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3173 allowed on the forums ?
 
Originally posted by FZ+
It's conservation of momentum, not conservation of mass...

Considering the relative difference in masses between you and the bus, I don't think the reaction from your movement would be really significant...

exacly what i was thinking.
If that were to happen, then the same would happen to the Earth if you were walking on it. But even if you had all the people in the world walking in the same direction, the Earth's movment would be to small to notice.
Yeah, so you need not worry about that to much. Even a giant scateboard wouldn't move to much(depending on its mass)

I can't understand the situation, the buses 2 wheels are on the cround..but buses have a minimum of 4 wheels.
If it were four, then you shouldn't worry unless you are on a slant..then its bad and not much you can do.
If its to wheels, the remaining two must be over the clif, in this case - the must is acting like a leaver. To if you move towards the dangerside, there is more weigth pushing the bus off the cliff. So move to the safe side and the mus will become more stable.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
13K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Replies
2
Views
9K