Helicopter inside a trailer problem

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

I believe the pilot needs to adjust. If it were a vacuum, the copter would go "backwards" in the truck just as fast as the truck goes "forwards" thanks to Newton's 1st. However, the truck has an atmosphere. So, this is equivalent to a 60 MPH tail wind (assuming the helicopter faces forward) relative to the "outside". (Edited to add: it also assumes the atmosphere is completely stiff, which is patently untrue.) But, a 60 MPH tail wind doesn't push the aircraft forward at 60MPH. So, I think you still need to adjust, just not as much as you might in a vacuum.

Also, I dug up this very interesting lecture on the equivalence of mass/energy. My understanding of combustion does appear to be strictly classical, and the relativists have refined the idea. Cool.

Mass and Energy

I also think the pilot needs to adjust, but not for those reasons. Since the system is closed everything inside the trailer, including the helicopter, should simply translate horizontally.

Butthe rotors will act as gyroscopes and will respond to the acceleration of the entire trailer system. The pilot will need to adjust to counteract those forces.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

Since the system is closed everything inside the trailer, including the helicopter, should simply translate horizontally.

What about inertia?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Has anyone accounted for the beans. No really. the weight of the bean going down is much more weight than when it comes out and fumigates the truck.

Also BTW this whole theory can not work. Want to know why?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Also BTW this whole theory can not work. Want to know why?

Give Up?

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Boy, we have some smart people here and they love timesharing too. What difference does Frank's "fart" make?

Yes, I want to know the answer, Frank.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

What about inertia?

You're right. It would be just the same as if the helicopter were hovering in air and a gust of wind hit it. It doesn't immediately start to move with the air.