Jumping on a Train: Tips and Advice

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a man jumping from a moving train as it makes a sharp turn. Participants explore concepts related to momentum, acceleration, and the effects of the train's speed on the man's trajectory. The problem touches on kinematics and dynamics, particularly in the context of circular motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the implications of the train's speed and direction on the man's landing position, questioning how momentum affects his trajectory. Some suggest extreme scenarios to clarify the problem, while others emphasize the need for diagrams and clearer problem statements. There is also exploration of the forces acting on the man and the train during the jump.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing insights and questioning each other's reasoning. Some have offered guidance on the importance of diagrams and clarifying assumptions, while others are still grappling with the complexities of the problem. Multiple interpretations of the scenario are being explored, particularly regarding the effects of speed and direction on the man's landing position.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the lack of sufficient data for calculations and the vagueness of the problem statement. There is an ongoing debate about the realism of the scenario, particularly concerning the sharpness of the turn and its implications for the train's speed and acceleration.

john007
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Homework Statement
imagine a train that is moving straight and a man jumps as it moves to the right around a sharp bend.
There are 4 point labelled A,B,C D where:
A=position of person before he jumps
B= position a certain distance to the left of A
C=position twice distance of B to the left of A(ie BC=AB).
D= a position behind A and AD=AB.

When the train turns right, which is the closest point where man will land.

I know the answer but don't understand why.
Relevant Equations
non
Hi,

In theory its a simple question. What am I missing?
 
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john007 said:
What am I missing?
What you're missing right now is telling us what you think the answer is and your best effort at explaining why it's the right answer. Please read the rules. We can't help until you have shown an effort.
 
ok.

The train is initailly moving staright(north) as the man jumps and then suddenly it moves to the right round sharp bend. The momentum of man keeps him moving North in the air. So both C and D are possibilities depending on the speed of the train.
Thanks
 
john007 said:
ok.

The train is initailly moving staright(north) as the man jumps and then suddenly it moves to the right round sharp bend. The momentum of man keeps him moving North in the air. So both C and D are possibilities depending on the speed of the train.
Thanks
You're also missing a diagram and clear statement of the question.
 
One of the things that I learned long ago is that it will sometimes clarify a math problem if you take things to the extreme (within the parameters of the problem).

What happens if the train takes an 89 degree turn to the right and is now heading almost due East ?

NOTE: This would require a ridiculous acceleration of the train but as I said, you take things to an extreme within the bounds of the problem, which this is.

Also, I agree w/ Perok. Always draw a diagram where possible and clarify the problem statement relative to the diagram.
 
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sorry - just noticed attach files. This will make it easier. It is now attached. The option is either A,B,C or D.

Thanks
 

Attachments

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    ph q.PNG
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So now that you have clarified the question (which, sadly, remains bogus), can you support your argumentation in favor of C or D being the right answer?

Can you support your argumentation against A and B?
 
using the lettering in the diagram, not the one given in the first description, I actually think he would land on c or D. The reason is that initially, as shown in diagram the train is due North just before man jumps so the man travels due North in the air. The speed determines if he lands closer to C or D which makes the question very complicated and does not contain sufficient data for calculations. In fact the i think the moree confusing it gets because now i am thinking D is possible. The only on i can eliminate is A because the man moves North as the train turns right and A will always be behind him(not necessarily directly behind him).
 
john007 said:
using the lettering in the diagram, not the one given in the first description, I actually think he would land on c or D. The reason is that initially, as shown in diagram the train is due North just before man jumps so the man travels due North in the air. The speed determines if he lands closer to C or D
Slow down and actually explain your reasoning this time.

The man travels due North in the air. Great. But that does not tell how the train moves beneath him.

How does the speed make a difference? What happens for a slow moving train? What happens for a fast moving train?

While you are busy changing the speed of the train, what other things are you holding constant? The radius of the curve? The angular rotation rate of the train? Something else?
 
  • #10
john007 said:
using the lettering in the diagram, not the one given in the first description, I actually think he would land on c or D. The reason is that initially, as shown in diagram the train is due North just before man jumps so the man travels due North in the air. The speed determines if he lands closer to C or D which makes the question very complicated and does not contain sufficient data for calculations. In fact the i think the moree confusing it gets because now i am thinking D is possible. The only on i can eliminate is A because the man moves North as the train turns right and A will always be behind him(not necessarily directly behind him).
Assuming the train's speed does not change, which way would the man accelerate if he stayed at the same point in the carriage? What force causes that acceleration?
 
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  • #11
john007 said:
using the lettering in the diagram, not the one given in the first description, I actually think he would land on c or D.
...
According to posted diagram, C=position of person before he jumps.
Do you mean he would land on C?

When the train beginns turning to the right, what would happen to a luggage with wheels that is not restained respect to the floor of the train?

source.gif
 
  • #12
haruspex said:
Assuming the train's speed does not change, which way would the man accelerate if he stayed at the same point in the carriage? What force causes that acceleration?
It states 'sharp bend' so am assuming this means that the track curves very quickly to make a right angle ie a small curve. Irrespective of speed, when the man jumps and assuming the train quickly turns to the right , the speed of the man in the North direction is greater than that of the train so he will travel further than the train in that direction so he will move away from C. Depending on how long he is in the air he could land near B or A. Although I eliminated D during my earlier thoughts, that is now a possibility.
As fro the trolly/suitacase, if the train suddenly moves to the right then the momentum would keep the trolley moving due north. But this still does not help.
 
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  • #13
haruspex said:
Assuming the train's speed does not change, which way would the man accelerate if he stayed at the same point in the carriage? What force causes that acceleration?
The centripetal force which acts inwards. But the man is in the air and as he and train are moving North just before he jums he carries on moving North in the air.
 
  • #14
john007 said:
The centripetal force which acts inwards. But the man is in the air and as he and train are moving North just before he jums he carries on moving North in the air.
That is correct. How does that help you decide where, with respect to points ABCD, he is likely to land? Imagine an oriented frame of reference fixed on the ground. The labeled points on the train and the passenger are all moving relative to this frame. Can you draw the paths (seen from above) of the 4 points in that frame? What about the path of the passenger while he is in the air? How do you interpret what happens when two paths intersect?
 
  • #15
john007 said:
It states 'sharp bend' so am assuming this means that the track curves very quickly to make a right angle ie a small curve.
If the track makes a right angle turn and the train car makes this turn within the time that the jumper takes off and lands, what sort of acceleration would that imply for the front and rear of the car. Is that realistic? Does that, perhaps, temper what might reasonably be meant by "sharp"?

If the train car is to negotiate a 90 degree turn within the time frame for a jumper to take off and land, does this put any constraint on the speed of the train car?
 
  • #16
jbriggs444 said:
If the train car is to negotiate a 90 degree turn within the time frame for a jumper to take off and land, does this put any constraint on the speed of the train car?
It did not occur to me that the turn could be that sharp, certainly not for an iron horse train car on a track. However I can imagine a platform flying at constant speed due North; when the man jumps, he activates a switch that simultaneously reduces the northward speed from V to zero while increasing the eastward speed from zero to V in the 1-2 seconds the man is in the air.
 
  • #17
john007 said:
The centripetal force which acts inwards.
Inwards to the curve, yes, but which way in terms of the frame of reference of the train?
Had he not jumped, what would have provided that force?
So which way will the man accelerate relative to the train when that force is removed?
 
  • #18
friction provides centripetal force so if no friction the man would slide radially. Sill can't see how to figure it out. To me the question is vague and and have assumed the paths is a right angle for simplicity rather than a circle although a slight curve is obviously needed.
thanks
 
  • #19
john007 said:
the man would slide radially
Yes! Stick with that.
But I am convinced that the question has been incorrectly stated. It surely intended that the man starts at B.

Edit: see later posts.
john007 said:
assumed the paths is a right angle for simplicity
But you would have no idea whether that gives the right answer.
 
Last edited:
  • #20
The last reply says that the question is wrong and so can't be answered.
Can ~I have comments from physics experts on if this is a viable question as it stands and if so what the correct option is or if its impossible to answer?
I know the answer to the physics question but don't understand the reason.
If the experts can't agree then how can i answer it.
Once I get some answers on the option for correct answer I will confirm mine.
It will be interesting to get different views on this and how certain everyone is with their answer. I don't want to influence anyone with my answer so await yours.
Thanks
pos this should really take no more than 30sec to answer as it is a mcq.
 
  • #21
Hi,
Can I have a least a comment on if this question and options are viable or if the question was incorrectly set?

Thanks
 
  • #22
john007 said:
Can I have a least a comment on if this question and options are viable or if the question was incorrectly set?
I do not like the question much. But if one applies some real world constraints on how high one can jump, how wide rail cars are and how fast they move one can prune it down to two answers. Given how physics teachers think, one can prune that further and divine an intended answer.

1. Rail cars do not turn by 45 degrees during a jump. So choice D is out. The deflection will be mostly centrifugal.

2. Rail card are wider than the height of a jump. And they do not accelerate at 1 g. So choice A is out. The jumper won't deflect that far relative to the car.

That leaves choice B (significant movement outward) and C (negligible movement outward). A physics teacher who wrote "sharp bend" is not going for an answer saying that the effect is negligible. (Though in my estimation with a reasonable rail car at a reasonable speed around a reasonable curve, the deflection will be closer to zero feet than to three).
 
  • #23
jbriggs444 said:
I do not like the question much. But if one applies some real world constraints on how high one can jump, how wide rail cars are and how fast they move one can prune it down to two answers. Given how physics teachers think, one can prune that further and divine an intended answer.

1. Rail cars do not turn by 45 degrees during a jump. So choice D is out. The deflection will be mostly centrifugal.

2. Rail card are wider than the height of a jump. And they do not accelerate at 1 g. So choice A is out. The jumper won't deflect that far relative to the car.

That leaves choice B (significant movement outward) and C (negligible movement outward). A physics teacher who wrote "sharp bend" is not going for an answer saying that the effect is negligible. (Though in my estimation with a reasonable rail car at a reasonable speed around a reasonable curve, the deflection will be closer to zero feet than to three).
I doubt the question is intended to be that subtle. The most likely to me is that the man is supposed to start at B and finish at A.

Edit: I withdraw that - see later post.
 
Last edited:
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  • #24
haruspex said:
I doubt the question is intended to be that subtle. The most likely to me is that the man is supposed to start at B and finish at A.

So are you implying that the question is set wrong?
 
  • #25
I think that there is a clear cut answer to the problem as posed, under the following assumption: The turn is executed by an acceleration ##\vec a=a~\hat x-a~\hat y## with the speed of the train remaining constant at ##v_0.## This acceleration is "on" during the time interval ##0 \leq t \leq v_0/a##. Over this interval the speed of the train changes from ##v_0## northward to ##v_0## eastward.

With only this assumption we can write kinematic equations for the man and points A, B, C, and D relative to an inertial frame at rest with the ground and with the origin at the position of A at t = 0. Let ##x_0## be the separation between nearest neighbors. Then, while the man is in the air, we have position vectors $$ \vec r_{man}=v_0 t~\hat y~;~~\vec r_{A}=\frac{1}{2}at^2~\hat x+\left(v_0 t-\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)~\hat y$$ $$ \vec r_{B}=\left(x_0+\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)~\hat x+\left(v_0 t-\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)~\hat y~;~~ \vec r_{C}=\left(2x_0+\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)~\hat x+\left(v_0 t-\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)~\hat y $$ $$\vec r_{D}=\left(x_0+\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)~\hat x+\left(-x_0+v_0 t-\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)~\hat y. $$ The distances between the man and each of the four points are $$d_A=\left[ \left(\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)^2 + \left(-\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)^2 \right]^{1/2}~;~~d_B=\left[ \left(x_0+\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)^2 + \left(-\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)^2 \right]^{1/2}$$ $$d_C=\left[ \left(2x_0+\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)^2 + \left(-\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)^2 \right]^{1/2}~;~~d_D=\left[ \left(x_0+\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)^2 + \left(-x_0-\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)^2 \right]^{1/2}$$Note that these are the distances at any time ##t##, including the landing time which need not be equal to the time ##v_0/a## required for the train to complete the turn as the question does not state that it is. When the negative signs in the squared terms are taken care of, it should be obvious which distance is the shortest and addresses the original question "which is the closest point where (the) man will land?"
 
  • #26
The answer given by the person who set the question is...
 
  • #27
john007 said:
The answer given by the person who set the question is...
##\dots## not necessarily correct without justification.
 
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  • #28
That is what I wanted to confirm, as some of the responses wanted me to give an answer and justify it and I was getting more confused each time I looked at the question and thought that there was a correct option.

But I don't think everyone on the forum thinks that this question and option don't make sense. Btw the answer given by the person who set it is A.

Initially I narrowed it down to A or B but thought A and B are equivalent so to speak so was wondering how to distinguish between them.

The mathematical method is too much for me but it would be interesting which position the formulae give.
 
  • #29
john007 said:
But I don't think everyone on the forum thinks that this question and option don't make sense. Btw the answer given by the person who set it is A.

Initially I narrowed it down to A or B but thought A and B are equivalent so to speak so was wondering how to distinguish between them.

The mathematical method is too much for me but it would be interesting which position the formulae give.
You cannot get into mathematics until the interpretation is nailed down.

With @haruspex interpretation, A is the obvious choice.
 
  • #30
jbriggs444 said:
You cannot get into mathematics until the interpretation is nailed down.

With @haruspex interpretation, A is the obvious choice.
I withdraw my interpretation.
 

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