Does a humming bird eating flower juice in an accelerating train, need to fly forward or just fly to remain at the same place?

Question

Does it need to fly forward? Or just need to fly to keep at the same position as usual?

TanMath · Answer 1 · 2015-10-26T07:26:17.377

0

The hummingbird would need to fly forward because the flower is in the train and will move forward and since the hummingbird is not part of the train (i.e. attached to the train), it will need to move forward to catch up. Otherwise, it will just hit the rear end of the train car in which the flower is in.

edited Oct 26 '15 at 07:26

answered Oct 26 '15 at 06:58

TanMath

1,785

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 26 '15 at 07:14

The key part to this question is the fact that although the bird is supported by the air (which does move with the train), it is not floating in it. The bird must use its wings to overcome gravity (which is similar to an upward acceleration of the train).

If an additional acceleration forward is introduced, the birds wings must do additional work or it will move through the air until the rear wall of the train reaches it.

Does a humming bird eating flower juice in an accelerating train, need to fly forward or just fly to remain at the same place?

2 Answers2