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mrcore64
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A man flies a small light aircraft straight and level. Inside the cockpit is a fly flying. Does the fly’s weight contribute to the aircraft’s weight at all?
dextercioby said:Of course not, unless the fly is attached to the walls of the plane (probably dead in the process)
mrcore64 said:My friend alex refutes this and asks: But what if the fly is flying directly above the air conditioning vent?
mrcore64 said:*making you into his patsy*:rofl: But I like frilly things
He can't be flucked to register so I'm just copy'n'pastin his replies from our e-mails at work... I think it would still add to the weight of the plane becasue it's still flying...
Now if the fly was dead and being suspended in midair by the updraft from the air conditioning vent would it add to the weight then?
mrcore64 said:Fair enough but this question *If the fly was dead and being suspended in midair by the updraft from the air conditioning vent would it add to the weight then?* was mine :D Unless your stumped...
My friend alex refutes this and asks: But what if the fly is flying directly above the air conditioning vent?
mrcore64 said:Yeeeeea cos he said it was flying... and I am saying if it were dead...:uhh:
OK, here's the evolved form of the question...
A man flies a small light aircraft straight and level. Inside the cockpit is a dead fly being suspend in midair by the updraft from the aircrafts AC. Does the fly’s weight contribute to the aircraft’s weight at all?
mrcore64 said::rofl: It's a stupid question that we made up at work to pass time! You really shouldn't be gettin so worked up over something so trivial, it's bad for your heart :uhh:
mrcore64 said:Unless your stumped... :rofl: It was a joke dude! Are you going to stop me posting on the forum for having a sense of humor?
Anyway back to the question... In light of your answer some aspects need to be cleared up...
Where did you get the ridiculous notion of a bird being suspended when we were talking about a fly? Is it possible on a metaphysical level for a fly to spontaneously transform into a bird? If so could it's weight could be supported by the air conditioning system?
mrcore64 said:Oh ok...:yuck:...
As long as we are both on the same page that this is a TRIVIAL question, I'm not out to make air travel safer or create the next type of fuel...
Do you feel that you are doing a public service by answering an immensely banal question with the utmost authority and seriousness? It tests me to respect you as an "intellectual" if you can't see the funny side of this...you have a mother!
Zapper, he's got you there. You are obviously out-of-touch with the spirit and intent of the Physics Forum - what with your mere 6000+ posts and four year+ attendance. mrcore64 clearly has his hand on the pulse of the PF forum, having been here for several days now. Clearly, he knows why PF members come here every day.mrcore64 said:Oh ok...:yuck:...
As long as we are both on the same page that this is a TRIVIAL question, I'm not out to make air travel safer or create the next type of fuel...
Do you feel that you are doing a public service by answering an immensely banal question with the utmost authority and seriousness? It tests me to respect you as an "intellectual" if you can't see the funny side of this...you have a mother!
Your question is answered by the well-known logic puzzle that he refers to - birds flying inside a container truck.mrcore64 said:Where did you get the ridiculous notion of a bird being suspended when we were talking about a fly? Is it possible on a metaphysical level for a fly to spontaneously transform into a bird? If so could its weight be supported by the air conditioning system?
DaveC426913 said:Zapper, he's got you there. You are obviously out-of-touch with the spirit and intent of the Physics Forum - what with your mere 6000+ posts and four year+ attendance. mrcore64 clearly has his hand on the pulse of the PF forum, having been here for several days now. Clearly, he knows why PF members come here every day.
Jarle said:If the fly suddenly dies in mid air, and then fall to the ground, then the weight would not contribute to the plane before it hit the ground.
The potential energy that contributes to the weight of the plane transform into kinetic energy on the way down, and then transforms into potential energy on impact. Isn't that right?
In an air conditioner, the air molecules constantly have to push the fly UP, pushing them DOWN, making the fly contributing to the weight of the plane. On a free fall, the fly's weight is not supported, so the weight should not be contributing to the total weight.
mrcore64 said:...science folk with the ability to harness Nuclear Power used that as a route to the Nuke (I've no idea if that's right)...
Almost any advance in science has the potential to be used for harm, yes. It is not the knowledge that's evil, it's the abuse.If you could harness Zero Point Energy as an energy source could you make a ZPE bomb? And would it be one badass mutha?)
Chaos' lil bro Order said:As the fly falls to the ground, it is pushing air downwards, this air pushes on the plane's floor. There is no escaping the fact that the fly contributes to the plane's weight. Try as you may, but like a fly in a jar, there is no escape.
* and by "minimal", you mean "equal to the weight of a fly"Jarle said:If but when the fly is falling, the air that is pushed down is minimal*, the only force the plane gets is the the force the air resists the falling fly with**. Because the fly is dropping in height, means that there is no force to keep it up, making the plane not contributing to it's weight. I agree with you if the fly was flying around, but not if it is falling.
This was what I meant. I also mentioned that that when the fly hit the plain floor, the weight of the fly would again contribute to the plains weight.As the fly fell, the plane would rise slightly (very slightly).
The weight of a fly does not significantly affect the performance of a light aircraft. Flies typically weigh less than 0.01 grams, which is negligible compared to the weight of the aircraft and its payload. Therefore, a single fly or even a few flies on board will not have a noticeable impact on the aircraft's flight characteristics.
In theory, a large number of flies on board could potentially affect the weight and balance of a light aircraft. However, the weight of flies is so small that it would require an extremely large number of flies to have a noticeable impact. Additionally, flies tend to distribute themselves evenly throughout the aircraft, so it is unlikely that their presence would significantly affect the weight and balance.
No, pilots do not need to factor in the weight of flies when calculating the weight and balance of a light aircraft. As mentioned before, the weight of flies is negligible and will not affect the aircraft's performance. Pilots only need to consider the weight of the actual payload, including passengers, luggage, and fuel.
It is possible for a fly to get sucked into the engine of a light aircraft, but it is unlikely to cause any significant damage. Aircraft engines are designed to withstand small debris and insects without causing any issues. However, if a large number of flies were to enter the engine, it could potentially cause problems and should be inspected by a mechanic.
Flies do not pose any significant safety concerns for light aircraft. They are unlikely to cause damage or affect the aircraft's performance. However, it is important for pilots to be aware of potential distractions caused by flies in the cockpit and take appropriate measures to ensure safe flying. This could include using fly swatters or insect repellent before takeoff.