Why Can’t You Switch Seats in an Empty Airplane?

It’s the last flight of the day and the plane is pretty empty. So you’re thinking, maaaybe you’ll just move up a few rows, where there’s a nice window seat with a view that’s not obstructed by the wing.

Not so fast, buster. The flight attendant says that’s a no-go. You have to stay in your assigned seat or you’ll mess up the weight distribution of the plane. Really? Would moving one normal-size human make a difference? Yeah, you know where this is going: Answering this question requires a bunch of awesome physics. So let’s get to it!

Center of Mass

People often say an object’s center of mass is the location

→ Continue reading at Wired - Science

More from author

Related posts

Advertisment

Latest posts

The End of Bureaucracy — How Leadership Must Evolve in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. If there's one enduring lesson from my career, it's this: Bureaucracy is the enemy...

A Government Shutdown Could Cost the U.S. Economy $6 Billion a Week, According to EY’s Chief Economist

A government shutdown is just hours away and lawmakers are scrambling to come up with a plan. If Congress doesn't agree on a measure,...

Is Your Business Healthy? Why Every Entrepreneur Needs To Do These 3 Checkups Every Year

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. With the turn of the calendar comes important personal health checks — the kind...