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  • A silly little puzzle..

    silverscorpion

    Member

    Updated: Oct 26, 2024
    Views: 1.3K
    Hi all,
    Answer this now..
    I have a weighing scale and there is an empty plastic bottle on the scale. A certain reading is shown in the scale. Now, a fly enters the mouth of the bottle. Note, it does not go to the bottom of the bottle. It's just flying inside the bottle. Is there a change in the weighing scale? Why?

    P.S: [This qn is asked in a puzzle competition in our college. I have guessed the answer, but I dont know it for sure.]
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  • m_rahuul

    Member • Jan 22, 2009

    no!...there will be no change in the weighing scale....
    the simple reason being that as long as the fly is just flying inside the bottle and has no contacts with the bottle....it does not exert any force on the bottle(no action-reaction exists).....and we know that weight is a form of force..no force=>no weight change
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  • Kaustubh Katdare

    Administrator • Jan 22, 2009

    Heh, I bet the answer is going to be 'yes'. But I'll go with a 'No'. At least, that's what I've observed 😉
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  • shalini_goel14

    Member • Jan 22, 2009

    I guess it is going to affect the weight. 'Yes' beecause now weight of bottle will include the weight of that fly also. Isn't it?
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  • Saandeep Sreerambatla

    Member • Jan 22, 2009

    The answer i think is yes ,but not due to the weight as it doesnt put weight on the bottle , but as its the small bottle as the fly flies the air around the bottle may excert some pressure on the bottle so the weight changes , this is my anticipation. 😛😛
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  • raj87verma88

    Member • Jan 22, 2009

    Assuming that the bottle remains open the answer is yes. When the fly flies inside the bottle its wings will flap. The flapping wings will force the some air downwards. The air force in the downward direction will be equal to the fly's position in air(Newton's 3rd law).
    The air pressure in the downward direction will be responsible for the increase in the scales reading. The change will be minute though.
    If the bottle is closed then there will be no change as the force will be distributed along the side of the bottle.
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  • Kaustubh Katdare

    Administrator • Jan 22, 2009

    With that logic, we should also make sure that the measurements are taken at the time when no one in the world is sneezing. I bet it will affect the reading!
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  • raj87verma88

    Member • Jan 22, 2009

    No, the farce will not be in the downward direction. If someone sneezes over the weighing machine then the reading may change. Again the change will be negligible unless you are measuring with an accuracy of 0.0000000001 Kg
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  • shalini_goel14

    Member • Jan 22, 2009

    @SilverScorpion,
    Please try to share its answer by EOD 😉.
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  • Harshad Italiya

    Member • Jan 22, 2009

    There should be Change...
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  • Saandeep Sreerambatla

    Member • Jan 22, 2009

    good answer raj , by the way how are you ?
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  • silverscorpion

    Member • Jan 23, 2009

    ha ha, I have to say, my reasoning is that, Yes, it'll change the reading. And for the explanation, it's the same as raj has explained. Of course, I didnt verify the answer with the event co-ords, but I'm almost sure this is the way it is. wat say guys?
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  • Ashraf HZ

    Member • Jan 23, 2009

    I'm with Raj on this one. Depends on the sensitivity of the scale, though.
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  • gohm

    Member • Jan 24, 2009

    What was the previous contents of the now empty bottle? What species of fly? Chemical offgassing from temperature changes on residue remnants and the wing beat rate along with wing size could have heat/vibrational effects that could alter procise readings... =)
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  • silverscorpion

    Member • Jan 25, 2009

    hi there,
    this is just a puzzle and no detailed statistics here. Read the question, assume what you dont know and answer. that's all.. Assumption is a great thing, you know!!😎😎
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