science question

[gradytwins]

Hi i have a question , its to do with Eisteins relativity theory.
Let's say a bullet when fired travels at 1000 mph, ok, If a person were on the back of a train which was travelling at 1000 mph and fired a bullet in the opposite direction of travel what would happen to the bullet relative to the ground?, would the bullet fire away at 1000mph or would it just fall to the ground?

I hope the question wasnt too confusing.

[jake-the-peg]

Well we don't need relativity for this, only when speeds get close to the speed of light.

If you think about it as throwing a ball from a car it might be easy to see.

If you're travelling at 10mph in an open top car and throw the ball backwards at the same speed then somebody standing on the pavement will see it just fall straight down to the ground.

It'll look to you like it is going away in an arc at 10mph

Same thing with the bullets and the train - it's just faster

[gradytwins]

cheers thx for that