Why is walking in the same direction on a bus/train more difficult

[MattA7]

Why is it more difficult to walk in the same direction as the bus or train (especially if it’s accelerating) than it is to walk in the opposite direction. Do any of those knowledgeable in science know why this is?

 

[Darandio]

Intertia. With any form accelaration you are being pushed backwards away from the direction of travel, if you try you walk forward against it your leg muscles (or arms if you try to use the headrests/handles for propulsion) have to work harder to overcome the force.

 

[johnnychips]

When I was a kid, on the top deck of a bus, I never understood why if I jumped up in the air, I would invariably land in the same place, rather than at the back of the bus. Then I found out about inertia at secondary school.

 

[DelW]

At a steady speed, there's no difference walking either way along the train, or compared with doing so when it's stationary.
When the train is accelerating, walking backwards becomes easier as that reduces your body's overall rate of acceleration (relative to the outside world). This is similar to the effect that pushes you back in a car seat during acceleration.
Conversely, when the train is braking, walking forwards becomes easier as that reduces your overall rate of deceleration.

 

[yorkie]

Why is it more difficult to walk in the same direction as the bus or train (especially if it’s accelerating) than it is to walk in the opposite direction.

Surely that should be only if it's accelerating?

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Surely that should be only if it's accelerating?

Correct, which is why we don’t notice the spin of the earth!

 

[MattA7]

When I was a kid, on the top deck of a bus, I never understood why if I jumped up in the air, I would invariably land in the same place, rather than at the back of the bus. Then I found out about inertia at secondary school.

would someone end up at the back/front of the bus if they jumped when it was accelerating/decelerating providing they timed it correctly.

 

[route101]

Coming down or up the stairs on a bus is difficult when moving or slowing down.

 

[Mojo]

I didn't think it was?

 

[Ediswan]

would someone end up at the back/front of the bus if they jumped when it was accelerating/decelerating providing they timed it correctly.

No. Not against the laws of physics. Just nowhere near possible with real world bus perfromance.

 

[AlterEgo]

would someone end up at the back/front of the bus if they jumped when it was accelerating/decelerating providing they timed it correctly.

If you jump in the air and the bus crashes into a solid wall as you are in midair, you will “fly forward” towards the front of the bus.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Coming down or up the stairs on a bus is difficult when moving or slowing down.

I would say it's also more difficult whenever the bus is moving, because of the vibrations of the bus making it harder to balance.

 

[MattA7]

If you jump in the air and the bus crashes into a solid wall as you are in midair, you will “fly forward” towards the front of the bus.

Yes however that would also happen if you were standing or seated.

 

[al78]

would someone end up at the back/front of the bus if they jumped when it was accelerating/decelerating providing they timed it correctly.

Theoretically possible, but the bus would have to have acceleration/deceleration well beyond what is currently possible.

 

[yorkie]

When I was a kid, on the top deck of a bus, I never understood why if I jumped up in the air, I would invariably land in the same place, rather than at the back of the bus. Then I found out about inertia at secondary school.

I'm on a tram now and a kid (probably aged about 10-12) is trying this now; his parents just told him to sit down. They missed the opportunity to explain inertia to him.