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Passing through zero (Posted on 2003-01-19) Difficulty: 2 of 5
A car is travelling in one direction at 80 km/h and a fly is coming from the opposite direction at 5km/h. (So its velocity is -5 km/h, since it's in the opposite direction.)

The fly hits the windshield of the car and is now travelling at 80km/h. In order for the fly to achieve the speed of 80km/h it's speed must have passed from -5km/h to 80km/h. (Meaning it must pass through the speed of zero) Therefore if the fly passes through a speed of 0km/h and the car is in contact with the fly the car must also pass through that speed of 0km/h.

This seems to mean that everytime a car gets hit by a fly it will completely stop. Why is this not so?

  Submitted by Alan    
Rating: 3.2222 (9 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
Np_rt's solution gives a good detailed solution in the comments. (It's here)

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
No Subjectnate2004-12-12 21:59:09
No Subjectdonnmike2003-12-04 23:55:44
¤dl2003-11-02 13:59:24
What's the last thing...?Greg2003-10-06 00:00:33
Some ThoughtsHumpfFatBoy2003-08-19 08:26:24
re: Not a solutionChaz2003-05-03 10:11:04
Strong forcesChaz2003-05-03 10:08:46
Some ThoughtsDeformation?Paul Boothroyd2003-02-03 16:52:43
not pointsCory Taylor2003-01-20 11:49:17
re(2): Not a solutionE Woodford2003-01-20 04:48:23
re: Not a solutionfwaff2003-01-20 00:33:17
Not a solutionE Woodford2003-01-19 21:34:40
re: Mass and Timeterry2003-01-19 18:49:48
re: Mass and Timelevik2003-01-19 17:53:24
Mass and Timenp_rt2003-01-19 08:22:37
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