You're driving along in a car. You have a helium balloon floating around inside. As you brake for the traffic lights, which way does the balloon move?
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Balloon in a car
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Posted 7 months ago #
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up, its filled with helium innit.
dont tell me i'm wrong, i've seen the film 'Up'
Posted 7 months ago # -
forwards?
Posted 7 months ago # -
Jaffa Cake, anyone?
Posted 7 months ago # -
jaffa cake isnt a direction!
idiot
Posted 7 months ago # -
Is there a vacuum, a conveyor or an antelope involved?
Posted 7 months ago # -
It moves forward relative to the car / driver, which is also moving forwards. As you brake, your forward velocity falls, as does the balloons; only, the balloon's speed falls at a slower rate as the braking force is only being applied by (friction from the?) air pressure inside the car and is thus lower.
How did I do?
Posted 7 months ago # -
which way does the balloon move?
Relative to the road or the car? Are any windows or vents open?
Posted 7 months ago # -
jaffa cake isnt a direction!
No, it's more of a philosophy.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Forwards til it hits the airbag, then backwards and probably left and up a bit.
Posted 7 months ago # -
They move slightly forward and then back like most objects in the car.
Bollocks why am I answering.
Posted 7 months ago # -
jaffa cake isnt a direction!
No, it's more of a philosophy
A way of life, surely?
Posted 7 months ago # -
The balloon dosnt move at all, but as the car slows it'll hit the windscreen
Maybe.....Posted 7 months ago # -
is it wearing a seatbelt?
i can see the adverts now... "cougar knew his killer" *slow motion shot of balloon gently hitting the back of cougars headrest*
Posted 7 months ago # -
Relative to the road or the car? Are any windows or vents open?
Relative to the car, windows closed.Posted 7 months ago # -
*snort*
Lots of images of small, sad-faced children with statically charged balloons stuck to their heads.
Posted 7 months ago # -
are you getting us to do your kids homework? Cheeky beggar.
Posted 7 months ago # -
are you getting us to do your kids homework?
Strangely enough, they haven't set him anything like that in reception yet. Maybe after half term?Posted 7 months ago # -
Good point Phil. If he crashes, the balloon could hit him with the force of an inflatable baby elephant.
Posted 7 months ago # -
i dont allow inflatables in my car for this very reason, unless they're securely strapped down in the passenger seat. clunk click every trip!
Posted 7 months ago # -
it will stay in contact with the car roof at the same point?
Posted 7 months ago # -
phil/downshep combo
Fabulous !
Good point Phil. If he crashes, the balloon could hit him with the force of an inflatable baby elephant
Posted 7 months ago # -
depends on the car?
Posted 7 months ago # -
Which direction is the car moving relative to the spin of the planet?
Posted 7 months ago # -
Forwards I think.
Balloon is travelling along at the same speed as the car.
Car slows by applying friction to the road.
Balloon has no such friction so carries on forward with just air resistance to slow it down.No?
(I was always crap at relative motion so this may be completely wrong)
Posted 7 months ago # -
barely any momentum + lots of air resistance = nowhere much ??
(brackets omitted for opacity)
Posted 7 months ago # -
Dont forget the expansion rate of the Universe is decreasing.
Posted 7 months ago # -
It travels at a constant speed and direction until an unbalanced force acts upon it
Posted 7 months ago # -
I think balloon backwards. G force applies but it is floating - so all the air goes to the front and the helium to the back
Posted 7 months ago # -
G force applies but it is floating - so all the air goes to the front and the helium to the back
That explains why everyone in the back of the car passes out whenever I brake
Posted 7 months ago # -
Theres a budgie hovering in a cage in an aeroplane hold going along runway thats also happens to be a conveyor belt. The belt stops suddenly, the plane accelerates forward. What happens to the budgie?
Does he get accelerated backwards through the grates on the cage and become budgie slices (think craft cheese slices) or does he continue to hover in his cage?
Posted 7 months ago # -
the budgie slams into the back of seat 34B and kills cougar and the STW joke threads are never the same again
Posted 7 months ago # -
Why does the balloon go up normally and rest against the roof? gravity . In the car you are applying a G force horizontally - so the balloon floats to the back of the car when you brake as the effective g on the space inside the car is no longer vertical.
Posted 7 months ago # -
TandemJeremy - Member
I think balloon backwards. G force applies but it is floating - so all the air goes to the front and the helium to the backAnoyingly I agree with TJ.
But can you please use the word acceleration rather than G-forces?
The air moves foreward relative to the car, so the lighter baloon moves towards the back.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I think balloon backwards. G force applies but it is floating - so all the air goes to the front and the helium to the back
Ah, interesting, I knew there'd be a catch.
the budgie slams into the back of seat 34B and kills cougar and the STW joke threads are never the same again
Whether this is a bad thing or a good thing may be a matter of some debate.
Posted 7 months ago #
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