Solving the Mystery: Plane of Reference Question

In summary: This is because the air in the jeepney will not be moving at the same speed as the vehicle. In summary, when a remote control miniature toy helicopter is hovering inside a moving vehicle, it will be affected by the movement of the air inside the vehicle. If the vehicle accelerates gradually, the helicopter will move along with the air and stay in place. However, if the acceleration is sharp enough, the helicopter may crash against the back wall of the vehicle. This is similar to how a pencil on a table may stay in place during gradual acceleration, but may fall off during sharp acceleration. In an open vehicle like a jeepney, the helicopter would most likely crash against the back wall, as there is no contained air to move it along with
  • #1
Handsome jack
8
3
I saw random question somewhere on the internet a couple of weeks ago and it got me really thinking about it.

Supposedly you got a remote control miniature toy helicopter hovering inside a bullet train, if the bullet train suddenly started and accelerated to 200km/hr in 3.5 sec, will the toy helicopter hover with respect to the moving train or will it crash somewhere inside the train?
 
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  • #2
Handsome jack said:
200km/hr in 3.5 sec,
How many "g?" How many "g" can the toy handle?
 
  • #3
Handsome jack said:
I
Supposedly you got a remote control miniature toy helicopter hovering inside a bullet train, if the bullet train suddenly started and accelerated to 200km/hr in 3.5 sec, will the toy helicopter hover with respect to the moving train or will it crash somewhere inside the train?

When the train accelerates, the back wall of the compartment will push on the air in the compartment, very quickly bringing it up to speed. (That's why you don't feel any wind when you're sitting in a closed compartment in a moving train - you, the air, and the train are all moving at the same speed).

The toy helicopter is supported by the air, so it's going to do whatever the air is doing. If the acceleration of the train is reasonably slow, the helicopter will just be carried along with the air as it keeps up with the train. If the acceleration of the train is high enough, more interesting things can happen, but that will depend on the specific numbers involved.

You might try comparing this case with the behavior of a pencil resting on a table on the train. If the train accelerates or decelerates sharply enough the pencil will be thrown off the table, but if the acceleration is more gradual the pencil will stay put as it, the table, and the pencil all speed up. The helicopter is being accelerated by the force of the air on it and the air is accelerating because it's being pushed by the back wall of the compartment; the pencil is being accelerated by the force of friction between it and the table, and the table is being accelerated because it's fastened to the accelerating train.
 
  • #4
U
Nugatory said:
When the train accelerates, the back wall of the compartment will push on the air in the compartment, very quickly bringing it up to speed. (That's why you don't feel any wind when you're sitting in a closed compartment in a moving train - you, the air, and the train are all moving at the same speed).

The toy helicopter is supported by the air, so it's going to do whatever the air is doing. If the acceleration of the train is reasonably slow, the helicopter will just be carried along with the air as it keeps up with the train. If the acceleration of the train is high enough, more interesting things can happen, but that will depend on the specific numbers involved.

You might try comparing this case with the behavior of a pencil resting on a table on the train. If the train accelerates or decelerates sharply enough the pencil will be thrown off the table, but if the acceleration is more gradual the pencil will stay put as it, the table, and the pencil all speed up. The helicopter is being accelerated by the force of the air on it and the air is accelerating because it's being pushed by the back wall of the compartment; the pencil is being accelerated by the force of friction between it and the table, and the table is being accelerated because it's fastened to the accelerating train.

What would happen if it was in another vehicle with the windows open or something similar? perhaps a jeepney
 
  • #5
Handsome jack said:
What would happen if it was in another vehicle with the windows open or something similar? perhaps a jeepney
What do you think and why?
 
  • #6
Nugatory said:
What do you think and why?
well in my opinion perhaps the back windows are open, the toy copter would hover in the same place leaving it outside while the jeepney moved forward since there is no contained in the jeepney that would move it with respect to the vehicle since it's an open type of vehicle
 
  • #7
The helicopter would most likely crash against the back wall.
 

1. What is the Plane of Reference Question?

The Plane of Reference Question is a scientific method used to analyze and interpret data in order to determine the location, orientation, and movement of an object or system in relation to a fixed reference point or plane.

2. How does the Plane of Reference Question work?

The Plane of Reference Question involves breaking down complex systems or scenarios into simpler components and identifying the key reference points or planes that can help in understanding the overall motion or behavior of the object or system.

3. What are the benefits of using the Plane of Reference Question?

The Plane of Reference Question allows scientists to accurately measure and quantify the position, orientation, and movement of objects or systems, which is crucial in many fields of science such as physics, engineering, and astronomy. It also helps in identifying patterns and relationships between different variables.

4. Can the Plane of Reference Question be applied to real-world problems?

Yes, the Plane of Reference Question is a widely used scientific method that can be applied to a variety of real-world problems, such as tracking the movement of celestial bodies, analyzing the motion of vehicles and machines, and understanding the behavior of complex biological systems.

5. Are there any limitations to the Plane of Reference Question?

While the Plane of Reference Question is a powerful tool for analyzing and understanding motion and behavior, it does have some limitations. It assumes that the reference points or planes are fixed and does not take into account external forces or factors that may affect the object or system being studied. It is also important to choose appropriate reference points or planes to ensure accurate results.

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