Vindekarr Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 (edited) Anybody living in/near Australia probably saw this on the news today; a man was boarding a train when his foot became stuck. A total stranger saw what happened and ran along the train, alerting the driver that a man was stuck. Once the train was immobilised... well see for yourself. These things are not light; they weigh about as much as a main battle tank, and here we see a crowd of ordinary, slightly chubby Perth residents tilt one without much trouble. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-06/man-freed-after-leg-trapped-in-gap-on-perth-train-station/5652486 So; people power. What is it? conventional physics? cumulative force applied to an object overcoming it's mass and pushing it normally? Or something juicier? Debate! EDIT: link is totally safe BTW, it links to an Australian taxpayer-funded news network. Edited August 6, 2014 by Vindekarr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackRampage Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 and here we see a crowd of ordinary, slightly chubby Perth residents shove one a foot sideways seemingly without much effort. They didn't really shove it sideways at all though. From the article you linked: "Then our staff who were there at the time got the passengers, and there were lots of them, off the train, and organised [sic] them to sort of rock, tilt the train backwards away from the platform so they were able to get him out and rescue him." They only titled it just a very little bit, which would take a lot less effort to do. Regardless, you can't really shove a train sideways at any rate, since the wheels and rails on the other side will block you from doing so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vindekarr Posted August 6, 2014 Author Share Posted August 6, 2014 True that, will amend article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bben46 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Still physics - the train cars are not solid, they are hollow. And the weight is not evenly distributed, In this case, most of the weight is at the bottom, but the people are pushing higher up - so they are not lifting the entire weight. The far side wheels act as a fulcrum and the car itself is a lever. Meaning they can lift a far greater amount of weight by tilting against those far side wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyYou Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 And the track is fairly narrow at that, giving the people even more effective leverage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vagrant0 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 As my solution to solve both the energy crisis, unemployment, and growing obesity in the US I propose building a series of large circular drums with small ridges on the inside which are attached to dynamos at the center of the drum. We can then hire people to take shifts walking up the side of these drums in the same direction at a steady pace using their combined mass and energy to force these drums to rotate, driving the dynamos, and thus creating electricity. As this is a job that requires no special training or ability, it can be used as a replacement or supplement to the overstressed unemployment system we currently have and help these people become functioning members of society. Oh wait, Perth? Sorry, thought we were talking about something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vindekarr Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 Heh, Perth could do with that system as much as America. It's got just as many unfit lounge-lizards per capita I swear, and unemployment could always use some work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kvnchrist Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 The power here was not in the pushing but the desire to act in response to one in need. The body, the mind and the heart working together is the greatest engine for good nature can bring to bear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vagrant0 Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 The power here was not in the pushing but the desire to act in response to one in need. The body, the mind and the heart working together is the greatest engine for good nature can bring to bear.It can also cause a great deal of violence and destruction. Remember, the road to hell is paved with good intentions... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kvnchrist Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 The power here was not in the pushing but the desire to act in response to one in need. The body, the mind and the heart working together is the greatest engine for good nature can bring to bear.It can also cause a great deal of violence and destruction. Remember, the road to hell is paved with good intentions... Agreed, but in many such cases, when hurt results the perpetrator excludes either (1) the body, by not being present to access the situation, (acting after the fact or getting outside help to do whatever is done) (2) the mind, as in reacting emotionally without thinking or (3) the heart as in not caring about the ramifications to others of their actions. In the case which I was concentrating on the results of Adrenalin as a mother lifting a car off a child came to mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now