Moving Weights

Most recent answer: 06/08/2011

Q:
We have a question going around our office.......... What weighs more a parked 2000lb truck or a Moving 2000lb truck?
- Rick Thurston (age 47)
St Louis Park MN
A:
I guess we're assuming here that we're working in a stationary-earth reference frame, since we're talking about weight. The "moving" truck has a tiny, tiny bit of extra mass in that frame, so it weighs more. The effect is of course completely negligible compared to air friction effects, varying weight of the fuel, etc.

Mike W.

(published on 06/08/2011)