It Is A Puzzlement

I have always taken pride in my knowledge and understanding of scientific and mathematical principles. I enjoyed my high school and college science courses, with Astronomy being my favorite class in college. It integrated all the sciences and truly helped me grasp the connections between us and the universe, highlighting its remarkable nature.

One of my favorite daily activities is to read science articles.

So, I'm somewhat embarrassed to confess that I can't figure out the following two things, but they've been bothering me for quite a while! I'm sharing this primarily for the physics experts among you; you know who you are. Here we go.

1. Why is it that every time I see a train go by, the back of the train goes slower than the front?! I do have a little expertise on this subject, as we live close to railroad tracks (on the good side, not the bad). And it doesn't matter where I am, or what direction the train is going, it happens every time (or so it seems, I may be exaggerating a little here). There has to be a logical explanation, right?

2. OK, now this next one has bothered me for a long time, and no matter who I ask, they can't come up with a logical reason, so I am finally sharing this.

   Scenario: You are driving in your car going 60 MPH down the highway and there is a fly sitting on your dashboard. Yeah, I know. It then departs the dashboard and casually, slowly flies around inside your car ( No, you cannot swat at it, you must have 2 hands on the wheel at all times, Grandpa said). Now, the car, all the things on the car, and everything inside the car, including your body and that of the fly, are going 60 MPH. But when the fly leaves the dashboard (which is also going 60 MPH), the fly is just buzzing around; he is definitely NOT flying 60 MPH. So why isn't he immediately being slammed against the back window and taking him out of your misery? Yes, I thought about maybe the volume of air inside the car is also going 60 MPH? But wouldn't that mean there would be a closed vacuum inside; then there would be no oxygen and you would perish with your fly friend. Right? WHAT AM I MISSING HERE?!!

   
   

   Well, as you can see I still haven't figured these out. But I feel much better getting this out there, the albatross was getting very heavy.

   
   

   Don't worry if you can't figure these out either; there are just some things in this universe that are a mystery, a puzzlement. And maybe, just maybe, they should remain that way.

   
   

   Cheers,

   Jaggy Jeff®