What Happens to a Bird's Weight in an Open Cage?

[Himal kharel]

if a bird sitting in a closed cage starts to fly what happens to its weight of the system

What in open cage

 

[DaveC426913]

The bird flies around; the cage will become somewhat lighter. (Down force from flapping will bleed out of the system.)

Unless this cage you mention is actually a container that is airtight. In which case, the system's weight will not change.


If the cage is open, presumably, the bird will fly away.

 

[Simfish]

lmao, then, what about the case as the bird's wings flap fast enough that it creates a shock wave inside its own cage? what about when the wings flap fast enough to reach to speed of light??

*flaps wings*

 

[Quinzio]

if a bird sitting in a closed cage starts to fly what happens to its weight of the system

What in open cage

Well, as a first approach, what explained by Dave is perfect.

If you wanted to go deeper in this topic, and you have a sealed cage with a moving object inside, externally you would feel a force. For a moving object I mean an accelerating object.
If the object, like certain insect, begins to fly but then remains still at mid air (in the cage) then the weight in the same as the original and there's no external force.

 

[JeremyGilbert]

If you have an African Grey parrot, or any other pet bird for that matter, it is going to spend most of its life in a cage. It is like putting the bird in a prison for its entire life. "But wait a minute", you would say, "a parrot is only a bird." Yes it's only a bird, an animal that has been given wings to fly free. Wings that no other animals or humans are privileged to have. And yet, humans keep birds in a cage preventing them from flying.

 

[Dadface]

If you have an African Grey parrot, or any other pet bird for that matter, it is going to spend most of its life in a cage. It is like putting the bird in a prison for its entire life. "But wait a minute", you would say, "a parrot is only a bird." Yes it's only a bird, an animal that has been given wings to fly free. Wings that no other animals or humans are privileged to have. And yet, humans keep birds in a cage preventing them from flying.

Hello Jeremy.This thread is not promoting the idea of keeping birds in cages it is about exploring some of the principles of flight.The OP could have just as easily referred to a model helicopter but I think a bird is a better choice because more people would be familiar with that.
Having said that it seems that you are opposed to keeping birds in cages.I can understand that and I guess that there are other people here who are sympathetic to your view.If you wish to discuss this matter it would be better to start a new thread in the general discussion forum.

 

[Simfish]

Oh man, I'm laughing so hard at this now