ease my tormented mind

[migmiller]

i'm one week into a four to six week ban from the bike due to an op and I'm close to madness already.
Whilst talking to my young son today we discussed the following old chestnut and whilst I know it can't be I can't explain it. So over to you......................

I'm standing on the platform at a station. a train travelling at 300 mph is flashing past. A criminal holding a gun that fires bullets at 300 mph sticks his head and arm out the window facing towards the rear of the train. As he passes me he fires....................

Does the bullet fall harmlessly to the platform as it is stationary?

Please, please, please ease my torment

 

[ComedyPilot]

You a dead man my son.


Never heard of a tail gunner on a bomber?

 

[02GF74]

in an ideal world, the bullet's velocity will be 0, so yes, it falls to the ground due to gravity.

 

[migmiller]

so...................two responses, two opinions,
Now you see why I'm tormented................................

 

[Speicher]

Trying to look at this logically

At the instant the gun is fired, say 0.02 of a second, the gun could be considered stationary. The Firing mechanism of the gun is not affected by the speed of the vehicle conveying the person who is firing the gun.

(I think this is what CP tried to say, but he strayed into aeronaughtical terminology).

Are you with me so far? Look, keep up.

BTW why is the train driver of that particular train called Mr Davies?

 

[migmiller]

How can a gun going at 300 mph be stationary?
As I am dead anyway is it from one bursting through my softly yielding body or because the bullet dropped on my foot and broke my toe leading to gangrene and an awful drawn out demise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Joe24]

If the train was doing 301mph, the bullet was doing 300mph, would the bullet come back and shoot the shooter?

 

[ComedyPilot]

Surely when the bullet is fired it will be travelling far in excess of 300mph (which is just the average speed, surely, of the bullet). The speed of the train will not be enough to compensate for this early bullet velocity so you are a gonner. (Also factor in that the bullet will be fired at an angle from the train, wind direction, cloud cover etc...)

...grassy knolls, government cover up, stool pigeon.......

 

[jonesy]

If the train was doing 301mph, the bullet was doing 300mph, would the bullet come back and shoot the shooter?

No. You've told us the train is faster than the bullet, so how could the bullet catch up with the train?

Of course, you GCSE types are all struggling because the question isn't multiple choice.

 

[Tony B]

i'm one week into a four to six week ban from the bike due to an op and I'm close to madness already.
Whilst talking to my young son today we discussed the following old chestnut and whilst I know it can't be I can't explain it. So over to you......................

I'm standing on the platform at a station. a train travelling at 300 mph is flashing past. A criminal holding a gun that fires bullets at 300 mph sticks his head and arm out the window facing towards the rear of the train. As he passes me he fires....................

Does the bullet fall harmlessly to the platform as it is stationary?

Please, please, please ease my torment

The train is doing 300mph, as the station and you are doing zip, the bullet will hit you at 300 mph. Well thats my theory or should I get my coat?

 

[Joe24]

No. You've told us the train is faster than the bullet, so how could the bullet catch up with the train?

Of course, you GCSE types are all struggling because the question isn't multiple choice.

Im A level you twat.

But, if the train and bullet are going at the same speed, the bullet should apparently fall.
So why is it then, that if the train is going faster, it wont come back.
Or, is that more if you shoot it out the front of the train?
If the train is going at 301mph, and you shoot a bullet out the front at 300mph, will it come back around and shoot you?

 

[jonesy]

Im A level you twat.

But, if the train and bullet are going at the same speed, the bullet should apparently fall.
So why is it then, that if the train is going faster, it wont come back.
Or, is that more if you shoot it out the front of the train?
If the train is going at 301mph, and you shoot a bullet out the front at 300mph, will it come back around and shoot you?

And you haven't done GCSEs to get onto your A levels then...?

Just think about it for a few minutes... I take it you've been on a train? So you'll have noticed that you can walk up and down the aisle while the train is moving, just as easily as when the train is stationary? And if you walk towards the back of the train, you don't suddenly fly towards the front of the train? Your velocity relative to the train is simply added to the velocity of the train relative to the ground, and exactly the same applies to the bullet. (NB, the distinction between 'speed' and 'velocity' is crucial here, but as you've so politely reminded me you are doing A levels, I'm sure I don't need to tell you that!

 

[Theseus]

Isn't this a bit like the theory that you can stop a train by throwing a tennis ball at it.

The argument being that at the moment of rebound the tennis ball is stationary, therefore as it is in contact with the train at the time, the train must also be stationary.

 

[Joe24]

And you haven't done GCSEs to get onto your A levels then...?

Just think about it for a few minutes... I take it you've been on a train? So you'll have noticed that you can walk up and down the aisle while the train is moving, just as easily as when the train is stationary? And if you walk towards the back of the train, you don't suddenly fly towards the front of the train? Your velocity relative to the train is simply added to the velocity of the train relative to the ground, and exactly the same applies to the bullet. (NB, the distinction between 'speed' and 'velocity' is crucial here, but as you've so politely reminded me you are doing A levels, I'm sure I don't need to tell you that!

No, dont treat me like a fool.
So, if i throw a tennis ball out of a train at the front, it wont come back to the train and hit the train?
Or, if i shot right, from standing on the platform, will it go infront of the train, then the train hit it?
Would this be classed as murder, if the train hit the bullet itself?

 

[migmiller]

I suppose I could just phone Network rail and see if we can try it.

Actually why don't we get James Martin as a stand in to try it.

Oh actually the other question has just occurred to me.

If he faced forward instead of back and I fired the gun in the same direction could he lift it out the air and put it in his pocket?