# Relative motion relative to a moving train **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relative-motion-relative-to-a-moving-train/791101 "2017-07-12T16:23:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relative-motion-relative-to-a-moving-train/791101/21 "2017-07-14T23:13:30Z")
> [@igor\_frankensteen](#): > > . Their body will land and remain in the immobile spot they would have, if the train were standing still, but that spot in space isn’t available anymore, because the moving train floor has superseded it. In the real world, of course, what happens is that they land on the spot and their feet immediately get pulled from under them, and they get thrown forcefully onto the floor of the train, performing several involuntary somersaults until the rear wall of the compartment summarily halts their progress. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relative-motion-relative-to-a-moving-train/791101/22 "2017-07-14T23:34:57Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > In my pocket, eventually. And thanks. Winner! ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relative-motion-relative-to-a-moving-train/791101/23 "2017-07-15T04:01:38Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > What if the train is on a treadmill? Can it leave the station? Beat me to it! I’m going down to the quarry and throw some shit down there. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relative-motion-relative-to-a-moving-train/791101/24 "2017-07-15T12:10:51Z")
> [@JavaMan](#): > > If you were on the top of the same moving train and jumped, I feel like you would land further towards the rear of the train because once you left contact with the train you would (rapidly) decelerate as the train maintained its speed. (Right?) > … > Please disregard things like wind resistance … Disregarding the effect of wind (and such things as low bridges & wires) this is incorrect - a jump performed on top of the train would be no different from one performed inside the train, or one performed on a train that was not in motion. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relative-motion-relative-to-a-moving-train/791101/25 "2017-07-15T13:28:17Z")
> [@JavaMan](#): > > Now, just suppose, I jumped into the train but kind of just hovered just inside the door, never landing. How will you do that? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relative-motion-relative-to-a-moving-train/791101/26 "2017-07-15T14:40:49Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Disregarding the effect of wind (and such things as low bridges & wires) this is incorrect - a jump performed on top of the train would be no different from one performed inside the train, or one performed on a train that was not in motion. If such a jump were performed while in a movie I believe that a low bridge would somehow become involved. And then, despite having jumped before reaching the bridge, you would smash into the bridge and fall back on the roof of the train much further back. Unless you were on the last carriage in which case you would fall onto the tracks, look up to see the train heading into the distance, and be struck by the following handcar. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relative-motion-relative-to-a-moving-train/791101.md?page=1)