Levitating on a bus, would you move toward the back of the bus?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter bOOandYA
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bus
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the hypothetical scenario of levitating on a moving bus and whether a person would move toward the back of the bus or remain stationary. It touches on concepts from Newton's laws of motion and the implications of different methods of levitation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states that if a person is already moving with the bus, they would remain at rest relative to the bus due to Newton's first law of motion.
  • Another participant suggests that if the speed of the bus changes, the person would continue to travel at their original speed, potentially moving backward or forward relative to the bus depending on its acceleration.
  • A different viewpoint indicates that the method of levitation could influence the outcome, noting that levitating by opposing gravity with a force would adhere to Newton's laws, while reducing mass might introduce other factors like air movements.
  • Some participants humorously assert they would move to the front of the bus for visibility, diverging from the physics discussion.
  • One participant critiques the question as violating the laws of physics, suggesting it should be rephrased to make sense, such as using a helium-filled balloon as an example.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of levitation and the application of Newton's laws, with no consensus reached on the outcome of the scenario.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the nature of levitation and its effects on motion, as well as the context of the question being hypothetical and potentially nonsensical.

bOOandYA
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
If you’re on a bus driving at a certain speed, and you could somehow levitate, not touching the ground or the chairs, would you eventually move to the back of the bus or would you stay stationary?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If you are already moving with the same speed as the bus, you would continue moving at that same speed and remain at rest relative to the bus. This is Newton's first law of motion.

If the speed of the bus changed, you would continue to travel at the original speed and move backward or forward relative to the bus- depending on whether the bus slowed down or sped up.
 
It could depend on how the levitation is accomplished. If you levitate by opposing gravity with a force then all of Newton's laws apply, you could also levitate by reducing your mass, then effects like air movements may affect your motion.
 
bOOandYA said:
If you’re on a bus driving at a certain speed, and you could somehow levitate, not touching the ground or the chairs, would you eventually move to the back of the bus or would you stay stationary?

Neither. I would move to the front so that all the passengers can see me.
 
xAxis said:
Neither. I would move to the front so that all the passengers can see me.
Hah!

bOOandYA said:
If you’re on a bus driving at a certain speed, and you could somehow levitate, not touching the ground or the chairs, would you eventually move to the back of the bus or would you stay stationary?
This is one of those "What do the laws of physics say will happen if I do something that violates the laws of physics" kind of questions. This thread is locked. Ask you question again with something that makes sense, such as a helium filled balloon.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
13K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
5K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
4K
  • · Replies 47 ·
2
Replies
47
Views
5K