• explodicle@sh.itjust.works
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    6 days ago

    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.

    • chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world
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      6 days ago

      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.

      • explodicle@sh.itjust.works
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        6 days ago

        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.