simple physics question - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

goodhabits · 10-04-2004, 09:50 PM

just out of curiosity...If you are driving at 100kph on a highway with a hotdog in your hand, is that hotdog travelling at 100kph?

(sorry if this isnt very philosophical, couldnt find a better place to post)

CoachAlan · 10-04-2004, 10:23 PM

This should probably go in Tilted Knowledge. But I'll tackle it here until it gets moved (if it does).

The question you have is about Relativity. The answer is both YES and NO.

YES, relative to the highway beneath you, the hotdog is going 100 km/h.

NO, relative to you, the hotdog is stationary.

Relativity states that all motion is relative to its observer or frame of reference. So the answer depends on what you want to use as your frame of reference. Highway, yourself, or some other arbitrary frame (such as the center of the Milky Way Galaxy).

herostar · 10-04-2004, 10:33 PM

Couldn't have said it better myself

10-04-2004, 09:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
goodhabits Upright	simple physics question just out of curiosity...If you are driving at 100kph on a highway with a hotdog in your hand, is that hotdog travelling at 100kph? (sorry if this isnt very philosophical, couldnt find a better place to post)

10-04-2004, 10:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
CoachAlan Psycho Location: Las Vegas	This should probably go in Tilted Knowledge. But I'll tackle it here until it gets moved (if it does). The question you have is about Relativity. The answer is both YES and NO. YES, relative to the highway beneath you, the hotdog is going 100 km/h. NO, relative to you, the hotdog is stationary. Relativity states that all motion is relative to its observer or frame of reference. So the answer depends on what you want to use as your frame of reference. Highway, yourself, or some other arbitrary frame (such as the center of the Milky Way Galaxy). __________________ "If I cannot smoke cigars in heaven, I shall not go!" - Mark Twain

10-04-2004, 10:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
herostar Psycho Location: South Dakota	Couldn't have said it better myself __________________ Got time to chill?