The Physics of Jars and Butterflys

[MrShoeBoy]

So I have a sealed jar with a butterfly inside.

1. Is the jar heavier with the butterfly sitting on the bottom or side?

OR

2. Is the jar heavier with the butterfly flying around inside the jar?

OR

3. Its always the same weight regardless if the butterfly is sitting or flying

Discuss... I was told I can ask for outside help on this homework project so do it well since I get a grade on this

Thanks!

AARON

[hardluck]

[QUOTE=MrShoeBoy;18080]So I have a sealed jar with a butterfly inside.

1. Is the jar heavier with the butterfly sitting on the bottom or side? this one

OR

2. Is the jar heavier with the butterfly flying around inside the jar? the weight is not measurable

OR

3. Its always the same weight regardless if the butterfly is sitting or flying. the mass is always the same but not the weight

i'm guessing but it makes sense to me

[wilson1010]

3

Substitute jar full of water with a fish inside and it will be more apparent.

Of course, if you are just asking about the jar as opposed to the jar, butterfly and air, answer is teh same, reason is different.

[94Dodge Truggy]

Weight is the same flying or not. When the butterfly is flying the wind pressure exurted from the flapping wings will be the same as the weight displaced from the butterfly sitting on the bottom. Mythbusters on the discovery channel just covered this I believe with pigeons in a semi trailer. Now go finish your homework.

[hardluck]

never thought about the pressure from the flapping wings. you guys are right... i guess wisdom does come with age!

[blazerbrad]

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

But it's a moot point whether it's flying because the butterfly will be lying in the bottom of the jar dead by now because it suffocated.

[KennyTJ]

Weight is the same flying or not. When the butterfly is flying the wind pressure exurted from the flapping wings will be the same as the weight displaced from the butterfly sitting on the bottom. Mythbusters on the discovery channel just covered this I believe with pigeons in a semi trailer. Now go finish your homework.

Not to get off track but the Mythbusters, while one of my favorite shows, has some of the shoddiest (poorest) science and engineering I've ever seen and they regularly get it wrong!

[94Dodge Truggy]

Not to get off track but the Mythbusters, while one of my favorite shows, has some of the shoddiest (poorest) science and engineering I've ever seen and they regularly get it wrong!

Really? :(

[KargoMaster]

Not to get off track but the Mythbusters, while one of my favorite shows, has some of the shoddiest (poorest) science and engineering I've ever seen and they regularly get it wrong!

Really? :(

well... they are special effects guys... they only need to make things work for a couple of takes... I do enjoy that show...

<Sigh>, I miss Scottie...

[MrShoeBoy]

Now go finish your homework.

Im working on it! Grad school is hard, I mean butterflys and jars! Who knew :p

Thanks for the replies guys! I was thinking it would be the same since the amount of air displaced inside the jar was the same regardless if it was flying or sitting dead on the bottom. Just had to double check with all you old wise guys on here

AARON