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[–] 1 point 3 months ago (5 children)

But if a bee is flying inside a ball and pushes against the side, what's causing the ball to move relative to the earth? None of the wind can escape, it's just air moving around inside the ball.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (4 children)

    When the bee bops into the wall of the ball, it transfers momentum to the ball. It’s no different from a hamster in a ball, just smaller.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (3 children)

    But the hamster is rolling the ball, not flying, so it can take advantage of friction with the ground times the normal force. If a flying bee hits the wall of the ball, then it's pushing back on air and the net momentum of the ball and its contents is unchanged.

    I think the ball filled with bees would just fall to the ground.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 months ago* (2 children)

    Sure but nobody said the ball could fly? It could definitely jump though, as well as roll around.

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