Tue 13 May 2008
A Plane On A Conveyor Belt
Posted by brett under offbeat, opinion, science
[5] Comments
I came across this interesting if nerdy physics thought experiment…
A plane is standing on a runway that can move (some sort of band conveyer). The plane moves in one direction, while the conveyer moves in the opposite direction. This conveyer has a control system that tracks the plane speed and tunes the speed of the conveyer to be exactly the same (but in the opposite direction). Can the plane take off?
December 20th, 2009 at 6:22 am
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April 13th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
WOW what a concept!. Amazing. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
May 14th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
I know its a really old post but i can’t control myself to post a reply.
Thats a good question i think.. Though I have studied physics only upto higher secondary and its long back so i really don’t remember the laws any more, but i think-
In above case only the tyres of the plane will be moving and the whole body will be still so the air pressure, that changes at top and bottom of the wings and resultant helps the plane to lift up, will not be there so the plane will not take off.
May 25th, 2010 at 4:09 am
@brett
If the tyres are moving that is just because the thrust of engine, conveyer movement will resultant into zero motion. The question was will the plane take off?
Plane won’t take off untill there is a movement of air on both side of wing.
We are not considering the friction and even if it is there it is mentioned that “This conveyer has a control system that tracks the plane speed and tunes the speed of the conveyer to be exactly the same (but in the opposite direction)” means whatever be the speed of tyres same would be of the conveyer so there will be no movement at all.
No Take off.
By the way interesting case.
June 8th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
The plane will take off, After reading the whole post and comments I did a small research and found this video by Myth Buster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YORCk1BN7QY
It shows plane taking off from a conveyer belt type arrangement. I guess its not that complicated as it is made.