If birds are flying inside a flying airplane, would the weight of the plane increase?

Have you ever thought that if a group of birds were locked inside an airplane and they neither touched the floor nor the walls, would their weight affect the airplane?

Surprisingly, yes! Birds do not sit on the floor, yet their weight will definitely affect the plane. Now think, the birds are hanging in the air, there is no petty “Angry Birds” game going on, it’s pure scientific fact!

When birds are flying inside an airplane, they push the air downward, and this push creates a thrust force. This force pushes the air atoms and molecules downward, which eventually collide with the plane’s floor. And the interesting thing is that this push is exactly equal to the weight of the bird. That is, whether the birds are in the air or on the ground, their weight will feel the same on the plane.

So the next time you’re on a plane and think birds are flying and the weight is gone, stop for a moment and remember this scientific fact. Wherever the birds go, breaking Newton’s law and the heart of a plane engine is not so easy!

Yes, the weight of the plane will effectively decrease when the birds inside it start flying. Here’s why:

1. Initial Weight: When the birds are sitting in the plane, their weight contributes to the total weight of the plane.
2. Birds in Flight: When the birds take off and fly inside the plane, they exert a downward force on the air inside the cabin. According to Newton’s third law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. As the birds fly, they push down on the air, which in turn pushes down on the plane.
3. Weight Measurement: The weight of the plane is measured by the total force acting downwards, which includes the weight of the plane itself, the birds, and any other contents. When the birds are flying, they are still contributing to the total weight because they are still inside the plane. However, the way they exert their weight changes.
4. Practical Implication: If the birds were to leave the plane (by flying out of an open door, for instance), the total weight of the plane would decrease. But while they are flying inside the plane, the total weight remains the same as long as the birds are contained within.

In summary, the weight of the plane does not decrease while the birds are flying inside it; it remains the same as when they are sitting. The overall weight would only decrease if the birds were to exit the plane.