Around the World in Eighty Days Group

Question:

hawnsmith
hawnsmith
Teacher

What is the physics involved in moving the train at the highest speed to get across the unstable railroad bridge.

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Posted by hawnsmith on Tuesday May 1, 2007 at 2:20 PM and tagged with around the world in eighty days, physics, railroad bridge.

Answers:


  1. sullymonster Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    The law you are looking for here is Newton's third law, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.  The higher the speed of the train, the less pressure it exerts at any one portion of the unstable bridge.  Therefore, the bridge is less likely to collapse.

    Sources:
    http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/newton3la...

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    Posted by sullymonster on Tuesday October 23, 2007 at 8:47 AM

  2. frobergbabe
    frobergbabe Student
    High School - 10th Grade

    in this book it is that hopefully if they go fast they will reach the other side before the bridge colapses

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    Posted by frobergbabe on Monday December 14, 2009 at 10:57 AM